What a disappointment it was to have such a late start to my training. Last year I did this Lake Zurich Olympic Triathlon, the first Olympic Distance I have ever done. It wasn't what I had hoped, time wise, but it was still fun and challenging. I had looked forward to doing it again and doing it better in the summer of 2011. Thanks to those injuries that went all off-season long, I was not able to train in time for the event. BUT..... thanks to the relay option, I could participate in that manner. Grabbed some friends and did it that way. My weakest sport, the swim, was what I would concentrate on. The olympic swim is 1500 meters, or .9 miles long. I was so intimidated last year, I almost ran back out of the water. But that tri toughness set in...."This is NOT what you trained to do...to quit....Get back in there and just swim it one buoy at a time!" And so I did.
This year wasn't as intimidating BEFORE the start, but it was a tad overwhelming again when we got the "Go" signal. For one thing, I was placed in the wave of all 24 yr. old and under guys and gals. That in itself was intimidating! There were a few of us older gals...maybe all two or three of us who were in relays. But 99% of the group had vibrant, youthful hormones and energy! Not all of them took the race seriously, however, and thought they could handle the race with little to no training. So, I had a few that slipped behind me, more so than last year. Again it was hard to see on that first leg with the sun blaring right at you. I did have new, flashy goggles that cut the glare and gave me 180 degree panoramic vision. The problem was the warm water with direct sunlight. Even these fog resistant brand new goggles couldn't fight the condensation. They fogged up so bad I couldn't see where the buoys were. At one point, I had to stop and lift them off my eyes to get a good view.
Lots of boats surrounded the course with lifeguards. Always a good feeling to know you have them there. I saw one swimmer early on climb into one of the boats with assistance. Not sure what his issue was, but he wasn't even 200 yards in. I wanted to go with him, but I didn't! Some swimmers really lost their way thinking they didn't have to sight much and swimming way off course. The boats would have to redirect them by someone putting a paddle in their path. I sight often as frustrating as that can be. Going off course like that is much worse and wastes energy. Better to lift the head out of the water and look than to have to add 50 or 100 yards or more to an already long swim course.
Eventually, I made the first of two main turns and the fogging immediately stopped. While turning the buoy, I saw one guy ram into it looking surprised he was where he was. I kept swimming and we seemed to be going the same slow speed. Then I felt him drafting me. I had all I could do from laughing! Anyone who drafts me really has no hope for a future athletic career! Ha! Either he eventually figured that out or I simply out swam him because I eventually lost him.
Most of the swim, I kept wondering if I was the last person. I kept trying to tell myself it's not a big deal if I am and it doesn't even mean that I'm the slowest swimmer. Someone in the first wave could be done already and had a slower time. I was in the 7th and final wave, just like last year (interestingly, they moved my age group up several waves, but since I was doing the relay, which last year got to go earlier, I had to go last again as scheduled....!). I kept swimming and never looked back. Didn't stop nearly as many times as last year either. Swim, swim, swim....just keep swimming! Finally, I made the final turn and had the big, red, inflatable swim exit arch in my view. Eventually, it was getting bigger and bigger in my goggles, but of course, not fast enough for me. I was ready for the swim to end and wondered how the Ironman distant athletes could stand to do another mile and a half yet!
And look....there I was (head above water sighting again) coming into the shore with swimmers behind me (and there were more to the right as well). This year, they let me swim as close to the shore as I wanted, which is what coaches would tell you to do. Standing too soon in deep water eats time as you try to lug your body through a thick water mass.
I didn't realize how tired I was until I got out of the water. Running on sand and then uphill to the bike transition was actually harder than swimming that near mile distance! Last year, the timing mat was right at the shore. But for some reason, this year they had to place it up by the bikes. So it was about a 2 minute or longer run and ALL uphill. Most people were walking, but when you have a relay, you don't have to worry about being worn out on the bike since someone else is doing that part. So....I ran!
Julie, our runner on the team, ran along side of me yelling at me in an encouraging way, "You're doing great...keep running...", etc. She snapped this picture while she was along side of me. It was not easy running barefoot with plantar fasciitis either! But I figured for a short run (although it seemed to go on and on) it wouldn't kill me. Some people had flip flops near the shore to step into, but with wet feet on rubber....I'd slip out and fall for sure. So... bare feet it was. I pictured my friend, Dina, at the bike waiting for me and she was the prize. I would hand her the time chip currently on my ankle and she'd place it on hers and fly!
Off she went and we'd see her about 1 hour, 20 min. later from her 25 mile ride. I knew she'd enjoy the course. It was my favorite part of the triathlon last year. It's about a 12.5 mile loop you do two times. While she was doing her thing, Julie and I waited. She walked around and got herself loose, seemed calm and confident.
This was a new experience for her, participating in a triathlon, and she was getting the bug! These races are highly addictive. She has raced many running races including a marathon, but never participated in a triathlon before. We watched as the cyclists were coming in and transitioning into the run. It was my first experience being on the sidelines near the transition area as a spectator. Quite interesting. Also, we were able to see the first athlete come into the finish line. This, too, was a new experience for us both as we are usually out on the course when that happens. It was quite exciting!
This guy was not the all over winner, but one of the early ones. Not sure what happened to my picture of the first one to cross the line. These guys are elites. Not necessarily pros, but ones who have placed very high or even won 1st place over all at other events. They get to go in the first wave so they don't have to claw over us slower "age groupers". It was amazing to watch their VERY fast transitions! 1, 2, 3...GONE. After about an hour, we entered the transition area to meet up with Dina. We'd see some athletes getting off their bikes looking injured or completely worn out. I wondered how I looked to people at that point. In the longer races, it is exhausting! Here came Dina and I quickly took her chip off and put it on Julie and she took off and ran! Go JULES!
While we waited for her, we went to the finish line area and cheered on some friends. Here's our pal, Dan, coming in like a pro! He didn't even look tired! Fifty minutes after she began, Julie came into the finish line. It was a HOT day, and the runners were sweating bullets! Poor Julie was all red from head to toe. Thankfully, plenty of ice, water and refreshments were at the finish line.
Julie...coming in from her 6.2 mile HOT run! The temps were well into the 80s at this point with matching humidity as the high eventually went into the 90s. Once rehydrated, we met up with some of our tri buddies from Naperville who also did the race. Western suburbanites up in Lake County, Northern IL, doing what we love!
Tom, Jim, Dan, Me, Julie and Dina..... Lake Zurich Olympic Triathlon, July 11, 2011. None of us won awards, but we all had a great time and that's what it's about.
Once we packed our things, the three of us gals went out to, Jamba Juice, and treated ourselves to a refreshing, all natural smoothie along with some wheat grass shots. Really....it tasted pretty good! Love this sport and all the fun people that go with it!
Next event: Naperville Sprint Triathlon. This time...just Me, Myself and I will complete the event. Aug. 14, 2011. This will be my "B" race for the big OBX in September. Looking forward to it! But first...Dina and I are about to venture up to the northwest suburbs to a store called, "Runner's High and Tri" to see Macca (Chris McCormick), the number one professional triathlete in the world. Dina's husband is accusing us of being "groupies". Ha, ha! Well, we will be inspired anyway! More about that in the next post.... "Good Day" (Macca talk as he's from Australia)
