Momma needs a new bike

So this past week was a little crazy, training for the Canadian and a long weekend.  So much to do.

Wednesday’s open water swim was a good eye opener for me.  It was tough and a clear indication that I really need to work on my swimming strokes.  Of course practice and training will help with that.  I was a little shocked when our coach said no heavy training Thursday or Friday.  20 minutes on Thursday and 10 on Friday – MAX. Good thing, turns out I was so swamped I barely had time to think!

Friday I pick up my “kit”.  This is my 4^th somersault event this year.  I really only want my bib and numbers, but I am told to take the whole bag.  I have all these papers, it’s a bit frustrating that I am wasting the paper that I am not going to even look at.  So I just take it, no point in fussing about it. Oh almost forgot – the hideous orange swim cap the women get to wear.  Really – that colour of swim cap should be banned. I know it is so you can see the swimmers in the murky waters of the Ottawa and Rideau Rivers, but still Orange.  Yucko – I have no swimming gear to match that!  Looks like I will stick with my purple one!

I don’t sleep well Friday night – I never do before a race.  That and the fact that I forgot to pop in my night guard.

Up early on Saturday, I want to go for a pre-race run, but remember what Geordie said – save your energy for your race.  I have a peanut butter honey bagel and a glass of milk for my meal wait for my hubby.  Meanwhile, I think long and hard about how long each leg should take me, how long I really want to be and how to swim well in the weeds.

I am nervous, as per the usual pre-race jitters.  I get into the water for a warm-up swim, however I am trying to not get caught up in the weeds.  I decide that laying on my back and avoiding the weeds is a good enough warm up for me since my arms are on the move non-stop.  The water just feels gross! I hit so many weed doing the crawl I opt for the breast stroke.  I may freak out if I keep getting loaded with weeds.

As I exit the water, I see my husband, get my kiss and my shoes, I was going to put them on and decide I want a good transition time so I won’t bother.  I come up the hill and there is the OTC tent and Geordie cheering me on (everyone really, but he shouts my name).  I am moving slowly, because I want to get my breathing under control.  I come around the corner to get to my bike, I know it is in row 13 but I can’t find it.  Panic sets in.  I know nobody took it, and it is here.  I take a minute to calm down and then I walk slowly eyeballing the row.  Takes a few minutes but I find it.  Calming myself down, I dry my feet, sock myself up, pull on my shorts and top then helmet and my water belt.  As I head out some guy is holding on to his bike having a conversation with someone and blocking the way.  I ask him to move his bike out of the way, he looks at me like I asked him to kill his buddy.  Really dude!

I grab a wafer figuring I should get energy while riding.  I even put electrolyte stuff in my water.  I run through to the start line for the bike and hop on the bike.  It’s a shorter than Brockville ride, closed road and much smoother.  I just seem to be very sluggish on this ride.  Almost like I am moving in slow motion.  Since I was moving at the turtle speed of mach -10, I finally figure out how the gears on this bike work and try to find my rhythm, by the time that all happens I am at the turnaround point.  Thankfully nobody cuts me off and I try to stay as close to the outside to avoid all the speedsters!

My arms got numb, my focus was out of whack, and it was like I was lollygagging my way through the bike ride.  Wow could I go any slower, yet my legs never seemed to stop moving.  I tried mimicking other riders pace and I just couldn’t get anything going.  As I approach the end I am thinking – Wow my bike skills are definitely lacking.  As I get to the dismount there’s my hubby again, cheering me on.  What a trooper that guy is.  He’s everywhere!

I run my bike back in, change shorts – yes I think I need to rethink my clothing options for triathlons.  I come out of the track and think I should stay right – that way I am not crossing paths with incoming runners, but no, I have to cross over to head out and those running in have to cross over.  Seems weird.  There I hear the OTC crew, cheering everyone on and bam, there’s my hubby again.  I feel drained.  Like the life has been sucked out of me.  I slow to grab a kiss from him and get a little more energy.

As I run, or walog as I prefer to call it, I think of what I need to do to improve.  First things first – swim, I need to work on that first.  That and I need to start training as well. Boy it’s hot, drink up I say.  Next thing I know, I have no juice left in my bottles.  Oh well, there should be a water station along the way.  And sure enough, just before the 1.5 turnaround there it is.  I actually had some Gatorade – I am not a Gatorade lover by any means, but it was helpful this time around.  I poured water all over my face and head and carried on.  I see the 1.5 turn around and think, hmmmmmm, should I.  Nah, it’s only yourself you are hurting by doing that.  I get through the first 2K and suddenly I feel some energy coming on and I pick up my pace a little.  And by little I mean little.  Then I start thinking about mantras and how I really ought to come up with one, other than “this is it, I hate this sh&^%t” although this mantra does add a little smile to me and lightens up my mood, because right after I think that I say, ya right.  You hate it so much you keep doing it!

I pass a few people who are heading back to the finish.  There’s that old timer from last year.  At least I think it was him. He smiles at me as says, don’t worry it only gets worse.  Great! I think there must be a huge hill coming up.  I hit the turn around and I pick up my pace. There was no hill in sight.  I get to the water station, swallow down some more Gatorade and along with a lot more water to wash it down and off I go.  There he is old timer.  He looks familiar from behind.  I am pretty sure he is the same guy I chatted with last year on the run when I did the Try a tri and he was telling me how much he loved doing these.  I spot my husband with the camera and I catch up to the 76 year old man.  I slow down and take the time to chat with him a bit and get hubby to take our picture.  I tell the man how awesome he is and he tells me to get going and not lose my time on him.  I promised to wait for him at the finish and head off. 

I round the bend and there again is my hubby, I get my final kiss before the finish and the OTC crew are cheering and one coach is yelling for us to get a room, I guess there’s not a lot of romance on the racing field!

I finish, not pretty but I finish and I beat my previous SS time by 13 minutes or so.  Pretty sure that this is because I didn’t come across any people drowning themselves in the water. I stand at the finish line waiting for the old timer.  He finishes, we hug and chit chat while having a post-race drink and snack.  He’s done nine of these.  I am stunned and amazed, thinking of how many I will have done by the time I am 76.  As we part ways he says – see you next year.  If only to see him race, I will go do it again next year!

I head to the OTC crew tent where Bacon Brent is and other OTC members.  I am wiped and ready for chocolate milk and a nice post-race meal.  We head out and all I can think of is how I am really looking forward to improving my swimming over the next eight months and how I really need to get a road bike.  More so now because we are off to deliver my daughter her bike (the one I have been using) so she can get to school over the next couple of weeks.

I start planning my training in my head and doing the numbers, I have two whole years to get to my goal, so I have to really kick it down.  The next eight months or so will be to focus on my swimming technique and speed.  I have to work on improving my cardio and my endurance for running.

Then I realize, I need to focus on running for the next month - I have a ½ marathon coming up in a month and a half.  Time to get my but into gear!

Sunday was a nice day, we raided my MIL garden and hung out and talked about our upcoming vacation.  By Monday, I want to run some more.  I head out to do a 7K lap and while exhausted and a little stiff, I am glad I got out there. I need to push myself harder than what I have been doing, only because I feel so much better after I do.