Well I did it! I finish my first triathlon. The whole experience was amazing and I am so thankful that my friend, Nikki, convinced me to join her on this journey. I admit I started this endeavor with the hopes of loosing the baby weight that I gained with Zane (now 1 yr. old). And since we’ve decided that 2 kids makes our family complete I was anxious to finally get back in shape and in my words. “Get my body back”. As all moms know the stretch marks are permanent and the boobs will never be as perky as they once were before breastfeeding but that aside I wanted to reclaim some of my pre-baby(s) body.
As I mentioned before I swam ½ mile then went right into biking 12 miles and finished the event with a 3 mile run.
I’ll start at the beginning.
The swim:
They have you in waves of 100 by birth date and each wave wears a different colored cap. My friend, Nikki, was a few waves before mine but we went to the swim start together. Waited in line for the port-a-potty one last time before the tri started. Luckily the port-a-potties were right near the swim start. J
It was interesting finding your wave…going up to other nervous strangers wearing red caps, “are you in wave 23?” Eventually we formed into one moving red capped, 100 women machine and we slowly waited in line to start the race. Each wave was sent out every 3 minutes. Oh and did I mention there were 5 thousand women participating?!?!
Finally it was our turn to start, we walk down the ramp into the 76 degree water and listen to Sally Edwards give a fantastic pep rally type speech that has us all giving double high fives to women closest to us and shouting “I am a great tri-athlete!!!”
I made a point while waiting in line to be on the outside of the clump. Honestly I feared what happened to the women in the middle or front. I had heard stories from past competitors of being kicked-hit-swam over etc. So I stayed firm on the outskirt of the group. Swimming began and yes it was totally crazy in the beginning, it seemed as though everyone was all pumped up and going full speed ahead. After the first buoy though things changed. I swam breaststroke the entire time. I am a very strong swimmer. Have swam competitively all of my childhood and teen years and I didn’t plan on swimming breaststroke. But it has always been my best stroke and I found it easier in the open water swim to dodge and to pass people a hell of a lot easier than freestyle. Plus it forced me to remain in control of my breathing and center myself for the rest of the race.
Transition into Bike:
I have to make a note that I was possibly in the worst section for my transition area. I was so far from all the starting points, so while other competitors walked to their bike, I jogged. I kept my transition area very simple and clean. My house can be described in exactly the same way. I had a towel to wipe my feet. And on top of the towel; my running shoes with these handy little lace toggles Nikki bought us so we wouldn’t have to spend time tying our shoes. Socks perfectly placed in my shoes so that I would just have to slip my foot in the sock/shoe and go. A bottle of water and Gatorade. A hair tie. Lip balm and a tri belt with my number attached for the run. And a tampon in a Ziploc bag (I was due to get my period that day as luck would have it. So I wanted to make sure I was prepared in case “flow” decided to appear half way thru the bike.)
The bike was pretty smooth in the beginning and then we hit this part where you have to go single file across a dirt path and then immediately make a sharp left and up a steep hill. It’s very short but very steep. And volunteers at the entrance of the dirt path are yelling, “Downshift! Granny gears!” Imagine 4 lanes of traffic merging into 1. That’s what it was like. So the person in front of me and behind me is about 2 inches from my tires. So I’m half way up the hill and the girl in front of me totally freaks and sort of falls/leans off her bike which means I have to quickly jump off my bike in order not to have a major collision which also entails 4 women behind me have to do the same thing. We all run up the hill with our bikes, make the sharp right hand turn and got started on our bike across I-90 in the closed express lane.
The view was amazing. The weather was beautiful. And while riding I reminded myself that I am doing this triathlon for myself and I took a few moments to enjoy the wonderful view. I mean when am I ever going to bike across I-90 in the closed express lane????
So the steep hill I described before meant we had to go down it on the way back. We hit a turn around point on I-90 to go back the way we came. So the steep hill was a little scarier going down when the chic in front of me is a mere inch from my front tire. And of course after the up incident, I was worried! But it all happened flawlessly and on to the bike finish zone. In order to get in the transition area you have to walk your bike and as I pass under the bike finish awning I hear screams “Go Gretchen!!!” from 2 of my friends, Corie and Wendi, who came to cheer Nikki and I on. I tell you what that simple moment fueled me in a way I cannot even express. So I rack my bike, grab my hair tie, tri belt with number attached and I hear “Go Gretchen” again from the girls making their way to the run start. I wave and jog my way into the run.
The Run: First off let me say I am not a runner. I am not built to be a runner. I have big boobs. Do I have to say more? So this was my least favorite event to train for. During the 3 mile run I jogged into speed walking. And I will say that as an ex-NY’er my speed walking skills are pretty rock on and I was actually passing people who were jogging. You NY’ers out there know what I’m talking about. J So I hit the 2-mile mark and the girl who volunteered to be this marker was so awesome! I give her such props! She shouted things like “You ladies rock! You are so awesome! You finished a triathlon! You are beautiful women!” These are exactly the things you need to hear at mile 2 in a triathlon. So I breathlessly ask, while jogging, “where is the 2 ½?” “At the corner”, she responds with a huge grin and a “you can do it” yell.
Here’s the deal…my goal was to run the last ½ mile and finish strong. So I turn the corner and as luck would have it a huge hill is in front of me. But these 3 angels were in the middle of the hill playing drums. The tribal beat they created got me up that hill. I yelled “thank you” as I passed. If it wasn’t for the beating of the drums…I may have walked. But I didn’t, I ran on. And into the home stretch, which was crowded with people clapping and yelling, “you are almost there, you can do it!”
I ran into the finish. Gave Sally Edwards a high 5! And thankfully my wonderful hubby was at the end ready to wash me in kisses and a huge hug!
I did it! I finished my first triathlon!!!
