Today I did the Door County Triathlon. What an experience!! One of the toughest things I have ever done in my life.
My morning started at 4 and I woke up sick...yep...sick!! My whole body ached...felt like I was run over by a truck....I had the runs and felt like I was going to yack. I did my best to get ready to go, loaded my bike and gear and we were off. I had some Gatorade to try and settle my stomach..it wasn't helping. We finally got to the site and unloaded everything and headed to registration to pick up my stuff. Feeling just terrible I made several trips to the porta potties..we became best friends..not a good thing.
I got my body markings, picked up my chip and headed to transition to set up my area. I was looking for my area and had to head back the other way..I was on the short racks in what some of us were fondly calling the "geriatric" section...all of the over 40 people. LOL The lady across from me started racking her bike and we chatted for a while and she told me she did the Half Iron Man last year..I was in awe..absolute awe!! She told me how doable it is and you just need to follow the training for it. Hmmmmm....maybe some day. We talked some more and exchanged names and wished each other luck. I headed off to the beach and Michael checked in to hand out medals and I met the person he was working for and then I headed to the bathroom again.....and again...and again. I forced myself to down a banana and a Power Bar..I need to have something in my belly.
I stood on the side and was looking out at the water and I started to get so scared out of my mind. It was rough...way rougher than anything I have ever swam in. I actually started to cry a little I was so scared. Michael walked over and gave me a hug and told me not to worry about it. Yeah right...I am heading into nastiness at its finest. They started the early waves and I had a bit to wait as I was in wave 18..the 2nd to last of the 20 waves. Talk about adding to the nerves. I just wanted to get in that water and go and be done with it.
So wave 18 was called to line up and we waited for 17 to go and then we headed out to the start gate to wait some more. Then the horn sounded and there was no turning back. I waded out a bit and then just dove in. I had such a hard time with the waves. You couldn't predict them at all..you would thing you would be in a clear and crash over the top of you. All I kept my eyes on was the big yellow buoy when I would turn and head to shore. They had tons of life guards out there..floating in the water with rescue floats and on kayaks. They were yelling to come to the buoy then you can turn..to float on your back..to yell if you need help. People yelled for help and they were there in a second. I saw people hanging on to kayaks for dear life..hanging onto floats too..it was scary. I kept going...I did my best to swim but with the waves it was a complete struggle. I had a lifeguard ask me if I needed help a one point...I was fine just sucked in some water. They kept yelling that once we got to the last buoy we would be able to touch bottom again. I went as hard as I could to that last buoy and put my feet down. I walked in a bit and turned around and got all emotional. I was so proud that I fought my way through that swim..I did it.
I headed up the ramp..pulling off my wet suit and they had wet suit strippers but I was able to get out of mine OK. I was breathing so heavily it scared the crap out of me. I walked through transition to my bike...I had a hard time getting my socks and shoes on...pulled my bike down...got my helmet and sunglasses on and headed to the mount area...very slowly. I was coughing hard, breathing hard and feeling like crap. I grabbed a bottle of Gatorade and hopped on my bike. It was windy on the bike. It took me about three miles to stop coughing so hard I wanted to puke and to catch my breath. My body was so tired..I could feel my legs..they felt like lead. I just kept pushing the pedals around and around. I would pass people..they would pass me. I started getting cramps in my calves. I had to stand on the bike and stretch them out several times. It sucked. I tried really hard to get a GU down and some Gatorade. I could not drink...it would not o down. I got to the half way point and grabbed a fresh bottle of Gatorade to see if a chilled bottle would make a difference. I was able to get a couple of swallows down and that was it..no more. I knew this wasn't good and not helping me but my body would not take it. I just kept counting the miles down to transition...looking ahead. Kept getting cramps in my calves..kept stretching them.
Finally back to transition...dismount my bike and head to my spot..very slowly...I was feeling so bad at this point. I racked my bike, took my helmet off, changed my shoes and headed out. It would have been nice if the people that were done wouldn't have hung out in transition. In everybody's way that was still competing. Pissed me off and I sad so. Don't mess with me when I feel sick. Needless to say...they moved!! I grabbed a glass of water on my way out and a GU packet and off I went...walking...slowly. I was so upset. I could not run..every single time I tried I felt like throwing up. It sucked. I was mad at myself. I just kept pushing. I finally got to a point I could run for a minute..better than nothing but no more than that...my body was not happy. The run was so hot...no shade at all and the wind was dying...yeah...I really wanted a breeze..badly. I was feeling overheated and just plain exhausted and just wanted to be done. I reached the water station and grabbed some water and a couple cold towels and kept pushing myself. I was relieved to hit the half way point and turn around..I knew I only had just over another 1 1/2 miles to the finish line. I grabbed another cold towel or two at the water station and kept pushing myself. I saw the 3 mile marker and new I was almost done..almost to Michael. I hit the finishers chute and didn't care if I puked a that point I ran as hard as my body let me that last 10th of a mile. The picture Michael took shows me airborne. I crossed the finish line and collapsed in his arms. I was sobbing and hanging on for dear life. I felt like I was going to fall down. He was trying to put the medal around my neck...I finally looked up and he gave me a huge kiss. I was so excited to be done. I told him that was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life.
I found out just how tough I really am today. I had to dig down really deep to finish that race. I was so upset with myself at the end. I sat on a rock and cried my eyes out. I told Michael I was so disappointed in my finish...questioning why I had to get sick...why couldn't I have felt like I felt the previous weekend when I had a great swim, bike and run. I was really upset. He just gave me a hug, let me cry and then told me to hold me head high...I finished and there were some that didn't. Some had to be pulled from the water.
I am proud of myself..I really am..for finishing when all I wanted to do was lay down and die by my dish. I cannot remember the last time I felt so terrible. I ate so good all week and took really good care of myself and it really sucks I had to get sick. But it is done and over and I am so beyond proud of that medal. I worked my ass off for it..didn't get the finish I wanted..but I finished and that is the important part.
After I was done I looked out at the water and it was calm..I started to laugh. Sure it gets calm now after everyone is done!! I sat for a while and then decided to try and eat something. They had pulled pork sandwiches and corn on the cob. I got a sandwich and an ear of corn and sat down with Michael to try and eat. I could only get a 1/4 of the sandwich down but the corn went down fine. That tasted good so Michael ate the rest of my sandwich and I headed to transition to gather my stuff up.
On the drive home we stopped at the Frosty Tip for ice cream. Yeah...I licked the crunch off of it and was done. Couldn't eat it..oh well..I saved a ton of calories.
So I didn't break any records and I ran my slowest 5k ever but I am so proud to have done it...can't wait to o it again next year!!
No laughing at my times now!!!
swim 13:06.8
trans 1 02:19
bike 01:06:38.3
trans 2 01:54
run 46:08.4
My morning started at 4 and I woke up sick...yep...sick!! My whole body ached...felt like I was run over by a truck....I had the runs and felt like I was going to yack. I did my best to get ready to go, loaded my bike and gear and we were off. I had some Gatorade to try and settle my stomach..it wasn't helping. We finally got to the site and unloaded everything and headed to registration to pick up my stuff. Feeling just terrible I made several trips to the porta potties..we became best friends..not a good thing.
I got my body markings, picked up my chip and headed to transition to set up my area. I was looking for my area and had to head back the other way..I was on the short racks in what some of us were fondly calling the "geriatric" section...all of the over 40 people. LOL The lady across from me started racking her bike and we chatted for a while and she told me she did the Half Iron Man last year..I was in awe..absolute awe!! She told me how doable it is and you just need to follow the training for it. Hmmmmm....maybe some day. We talked some more and exchanged names and wished each other luck. I headed off to the beach and Michael checked in to hand out medals and I met the person he was working for and then I headed to the bathroom again.....and again...and again. I forced myself to down a banana and a Power Bar..I need to have something in my belly.
I stood on the side and was looking out at the water and I started to get so scared out of my mind. It was rough...way rougher than anything I have ever swam in. I actually started to cry a little I was so scared. Michael walked over and gave me a hug and told me not to worry about it. Yeah right...I am heading into nastiness at its finest. They started the early waves and I had a bit to wait as I was in wave 18..the 2nd to last of the 20 waves. Talk about adding to the nerves. I just wanted to get in that water and go and be done with it.
So wave 18 was called to line up and we waited for 17 to go and then we headed out to the start gate to wait some more. Then the horn sounded and there was no turning back. I waded out a bit and then just dove in. I had such a hard time with the waves. You couldn't predict them at all..you would thing you would be in a clear and crash over the top of you. All I kept my eyes on was the big yellow buoy when I would turn and head to shore. They had tons of life guards out there..floating in the water with rescue floats and on kayaks. They were yelling to come to the buoy then you can turn..to float on your back..to yell if you need help. People yelled for help and they were there in a second. I saw people hanging on to kayaks for dear life..hanging onto floats too..it was scary. I kept going...I did my best to swim but with the waves it was a complete struggle. I had a lifeguard ask me if I needed help a one point...I was fine just sucked in some water. They kept yelling that once we got to the last buoy we would be able to touch bottom again. I went as hard as I could to that last buoy and put my feet down. I walked in a bit and turned around and got all emotional. I was so proud that I fought my way through that swim..I did it.
I headed up the ramp..pulling off my wet suit and they had wet suit strippers but I was able to get out of mine OK. I was breathing so heavily it scared the crap out of me. I walked through transition to my bike...I had a hard time getting my socks and shoes on...pulled my bike down...got my helmet and sunglasses on and headed to the mount area...very slowly. I was coughing hard, breathing hard and feeling like crap. I grabbed a bottle of Gatorade and hopped on my bike. It was windy on the bike. It took me about three miles to stop coughing so hard I wanted to puke and to catch my breath. My body was so tired..I could feel my legs..they felt like lead. I just kept pushing the pedals around and around. I would pass people..they would pass me. I started getting cramps in my calves. I had to stand on the bike and stretch them out several times. It sucked. I tried really hard to get a GU down and some Gatorade. I could not drink...it would not o down. I got to the half way point and grabbed a fresh bottle of Gatorade to see if a chilled bottle would make a difference. I was able to get a couple of swallows down and that was it..no more. I knew this wasn't good and not helping me but my body would not take it. I just kept counting the miles down to transition...looking ahead. Kept getting cramps in my calves..kept stretching them.
Finally back to transition...dismount my bike and head to my spot..very slowly...I was feeling so bad at this point. I racked my bike, took my helmet off, changed my shoes and headed out. It would have been nice if the people that were done wouldn't have hung out in transition. In everybody's way that was still competing. Pissed me off and I sad so. Don't mess with me when I feel sick. Needless to say...they moved!! I grabbed a glass of water on my way out and a GU packet and off I went...walking...slowly. I was so upset. I could not run..every single time I tried I felt like throwing up. It sucked. I was mad at myself. I just kept pushing. I finally got to a point I could run for a minute..better than nothing but no more than that...my body was not happy. The run was so hot...no shade at all and the wind was dying...yeah...I really wanted a breeze..badly. I was feeling overheated and just plain exhausted and just wanted to be done. I reached the water station and grabbed some water and a couple cold towels and kept pushing myself. I was relieved to hit the half way point and turn around..I knew I only had just over another 1 1/2 miles to the finish line. I grabbed another cold towel or two at the water station and kept pushing myself. I saw the 3 mile marker and new I was almost done..almost to Michael. I hit the finishers chute and didn't care if I puked a that point I ran as hard as my body let me that last 10th of a mile. The picture Michael took shows me airborne. I crossed the finish line and collapsed in his arms. I was sobbing and hanging on for dear life. I felt like I was going to fall down. He was trying to put the medal around my neck...I finally looked up and he gave me a huge kiss. I was so excited to be done. I told him that was the hardest thing I had ever done in my life.
I found out just how tough I really am today. I had to dig down really deep to finish that race. I was so upset with myself at the end. I sat on a rock and cried my eyes out. I told Michael I was so disappointed in my finish...questioning why I had to get sick...why couldn't I have felt like I felt the previous weekend when I had a great swim, bike and run. I was really upset. He just gave me a hug, let me cry and then told me to hold me head high...I finished and there were some that didn't. Some had to be pulled from the water.
I am proud of myself..I really am..for finishing when all I wanted to do was lay down and die by my dish. I cannot remember the last time I felt so terrible. I ate so good all week and took really good care of myself and it really sucks I had to get sick. But it is done and over and I am so beyond proud of that medal. I worked my ass off for it..didn't get the finish I wanted..but I finished and that is the important part.
After I was done I looked out at the water and it was calm..I started to laugh. Sure it gets calm now after everyone is done!! I sat for a while and then decided to try and eat something. They had pulled pork sandwiches and corn on the cob. I got a sandwich and an ear of corn and sat down with Michael to try and eat. I could only get a 1/4 of the sandwich down but the corn went down fine. That tasted good so Michael ate the rest of my sandwich and I headed to transition to gather my stuff up.
On the drive home we stopped at the Frosty Tip for ice cream. Yeah...I licked the crunch off of it and was done. Couldn't eat it..oh well..I saved a ton of calories.
So I didn't break any records and I ran my slowest 5k ever but I am so proud to have done it...can't wait to o it again next year!!
No laughing at my times now!!!
swim 13:06.8
trans 1 02:19
bike 01:06:38.3
trans 2 01:54
run 46:08.4
Great job on your tri. Keep up the great work.
ReplyDeleteKevin
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