Another one done - one more to go!

What is it with me and getting to triathlons just barely in time? No sleeping in this time – I was just directionally challenged on my way to the race. I forgot which highway out of the city I was supposed to be on (I went out Pembina, Hwy 75 instead of Lagimodiere, Hwy 59). Luckily, I realized what I had done in pretty short order). Needless to say, a few speed limits were bent getting to the race once I realized my mistake. I got to race check-in just in time and managed to get all my stuff put in to the transition area, but they started the race briefing early and I missed most of it (got the info from some other racers that I know from the RR). Found out that wetsuits were not allowed (water was 22.5°C) . After this, I found Karen (KBO) and Lisa (NewFinnLoper) – yippee, Maniacs to cheer for me! Got a few pictures prior to the swim start.

Got in to the water and thankfully, it wasn’t too cold feeling. The swim was much longer than I have done in open water, but I was happy that I did not panic. My goggles leaked in the first couple of strokes, so I had to keep my face out of the water most of the swim – or I would have big time issues seeing anything at all. There had been some movement of the buoys and it turns out the swim course was short – 665m instead of then normal 750m, but who am I to complain ? I was never so happy to see dry land before! Swim time 22:35 – dead last but I don’t care! Ian (clocker) arrived just after I started the swim and got some shots of me leaving the water.

Some more pictures coming out of the water and I was off to T1. I took a little longer in T1, as I wanted to make sure that I got a gel down and some fluid in me – the temperature was starting to warm up and I wanted to avoid any problems. The bike went well and I managed to pass a decent number of people (even people on road bikes!). Bike time 51:18.

Manage to be much quicker in T2 than I was in T1 and off I went on what felt like the longest 5 km run of my life – I thought that the turn around point would never appear. Actually, it was a very nice run course – a mix of asphalt and gravel, with lots of shade. I was getting pretty tired at this point (I should have taken a gel on the bike) and I took a few walk breaks but I managed to finish the run in 33:23.

Total time: 1:47:17 16th out of 18 in my age group. Not dead last, so I figure it was a good day! Ian kept my company during the prize draws and we had a great chat – he still had the camera out!

Thanks again to my Maniac cheering squad - you absolutely made my day! Next up – Morden Appleman – 950m swim, 30 km bike and 10.5 km run (and from what I have been told, wetsuits should be allowed – fingers crossed!)

eme

Up next...

Well, I have signed up for another Try a Tri in preparation for Morden.

I am going to do the St. Malo event next weekend. I have already registered on-line, so no panic issues like last race ;)

It is another 300m swim, 15km bike and 3 km run - so a little more on the bike and run - which I think is a nice build up to Morden, slow and steady.

I would like to see an improvement in my swim time, so that being said I hit Pan Am today and swam a really good 1000m in the 50m Training Tank. I had forgotten how nice it is to swim in a 50m pool!

Marathon day tomorrow - I am not racing (may fit a short run in early am) but the boy is doing the relay again this year. We'll see how he does, he is too speedy for me!

eme

First Triathlon ever, done!

This morning did not start off well - I managed to set the alarm clock for 5:15 PM by accident last night. Good thing for dogs - I woke up at 6:15, thinking that it was really light out. Jumped out of bed in a panic (Race Day registration closed at 7:15 and I had to drive ~45 km) - good thing that I had set out everything last night.

Since I woke up so late, I wasn't able to wait for DH and son to get up and ready - so no race pics .

I got to the race with time to spare and got registered, body marked (the body marker gave me a compliment on my RM Black Betty). After that, I set up my gear in transition and went to watch the Olympic and Sprint Tri swims (Try a Tri was last). While the Sprint folks were finishing up their swim, I decided it was time to wrestle myself in to my wetsuit - luckily I am starting to get the hang of this, it was much easier and better adjusted this time.

For the swim (300m) - was I ever glad that I brought a wetsuit. The water was COLD, I think that they said it was 17.4°C. I was pretty nervous prior to getting in the water - this was my first open water swim (didn't have a chance to get out earlier). Because the water was so cold, I decided against putting my face in the water when I swam (I didn't want to lose my breath) - so I kind of did freestyle minus putting my face in the water. For next time, I have decided that I need new goggles (mine fogged) and I need to look at getting contacts again - swimming somewhat blind sucks!

T1 went pretty well, no major wetsuit issues, got some Gatorade on board, socks, shoes, helmet, gloves and off I went on Baguette(thanks again Natalie).

The bike went well, an out and back 12 km course - kind of different doing and out and back, but it made sense because the race needed less volunteers that way. The ride was over before I knew it and I passed some people along the way!

T2 went pretty smoothly, I didn't have to change shoes since I was using toe cages and just had to rack the bike, ditch the helmet and gloves.

The run was a little tougher, I was starting to get a bit tired and it was getting hotter out. It was a 2.5 km out and back with and aid station at the middle. I took some water at the aid station and had a walk break while I had a drink.

I finished the race according to my goal - upright and smiling and my whisper goal of not being DFL! My time was 1:01:08 and I was 6/8 for female Try a Tri. Here are my official stats:

(6) eme Total 01:01:08 Swim 00:10:18 (8 ) Bike 00:34:54 (4) Swim+Bike 00:45:12 (7) Run 00:15:55 (5) I know that I seriously need to work on my swim (especially open water), but I think that I am hooked :) .

eme