A sign of things to come. . .
You've been warned! Triathlon event comin' up! Seeing these signs around town a week or so before the event usually wakes up the butterflies in the tummy. Race week is always exciting, yet stirs the nerves. This year, I was very excited to race, more so than usual. After a year of recovering from the bike accident, I felt blessed that I was able to participate in a sport I love. It's been quite the journey and challenge in coming back and something like this makes you so appreciative for the health that you DO have.
So...without further ado, here is how the race went. . .
The swim start is at Centennial Beach in downtown Naperville. For those of you who do not live here, it is a "beach pool" made out of a retired stone quarry. I love this swimming hole. You can practice open water swimming in the deep end, for those of us crazies who love such things.
For a while, the forecast called for rain, up to 60% chance. Fortunately, they were wrong and it turned out to be a beautiful day. Above photos: On the left, when I first arrived, killing some time before the race start. In the middle, into my triathlon suit. The triathlon top was a gift from the Ovarian Cancer Research fund so spectators can identify the athletes who raised funds for this charity. I believe you can click on any of these photos for a larger look. It was a nice top, but I would eventually put on the tank I ordered with a special message on the front and back (see earlier post about this). On the right, in my wetsuit. I purposely used the broken glass frame to blot out most of it since I feel like a walrus in that thing! Ha, ha.... The water temp had been in the upper 60s all week, but I heard the announcer say it was up to 70. Still a little chilly and very wetsuit legal.
Cool as it was, about 60 degrees at race time, I think our nerves warmed us all up. I would be the 5th wave to start in the water and at 7:16 we were off. I positioned myself in the front for the first time ever after 5 years of triathlons being kicked, shoved and body slammed (a normal part of the experience). I'm not the fastest swimmer, but I can swim! You are supposed to position yourself by ability, faster swimmers in front, slowest in back, everyone else in-between. I find myself in the latter category and have stood there, but it is the worst spot to be in. Most often, those in front of me seem to be the weaker swimmers. Going in the front did seem much better, though I had a couple of people swim into me, but only two!
This was the first swim I had plenty of open space. Unfortunately, I only had one day to practice in the wetsuit. It felt so heavy and it exhausted me. With more practice, you get used to this, but the rainy weather with beach closures didn't allow for much practice. The swim was OK and I was glad when it was over! Once out...run to Transition #1 (for non-triathletes...you are timed on this as well).
Above: My bike next to my jazzy towel (helps you locate your spot among the sea of bikes)
My transitions in the past have always been very fast for an age grouper (non-pro/elite). You can cut off as much as 5 minutes off from your competition if you practice this and do the bare bones minimum switching your sports gear. Wearing a wetsuit in the swim adds some seconds as it takes time to get the thing off. The suit exhausted me and I seemed to need to catch my breath, so I slowed it down and took more time than usual to get my bike gear on. My shoes already clipped into my bike saves time. Most in my age group run with the cleated bike shoe. I did that once and vowed never again...! You can see in this very short video me slipping my feet into the shoes at the start. Very age-grouper slow in doing so...but still better than running in those things in the bike start. I'm the one in the front.
The bike portion is always my strongest leg. I've learned not to go all out like I want to, but slightly hold back to save some energy for the run. Didn't work today or I didn't hold back enough, because as you'll see, I had no energy for the run! But at least I was passing lots of people for now and only 4 or 5 people passed me. These passers were younger gals in a wave or two behind me who were very athletic and amazing to watch whiz passed me. I LOVE this part of the race. I LOVE my bike! It's a tri bike and this was only the 2nd race Fabio (my bike's name) has been in. He's light as a feather and very aero dynamic. On most weekends, I train long distance on this bike and shorter sprint like rides on local bike paths during the week. Always so fun... Two loops around a 7.1 mile course = a 14.2 ride and off to Transition #2!
I felt fairly good coming off the bike and jogging out of the transition area (which was not the usual fast transitions I've enjoyed in the past). This is the tricky part. You feel like you are running slow after being so speedy on a bike. There's a tendency to run too fast because of this feeling and I lost that discipline of easing into it from not racing for a whole year. I went too hard too fast and burned out very quickly going up the hill to River Rd. off of the river walk. I decided to take a 30 second walk and it all went downhill after that! Normally, I've been able to overcome that, "I wanna stop" feeling and push through it. But it was really bad this time. . .to the point of totally not being able to push through it. I spent the entire 5K run, walk, run, walk. No matter how hard I tried, I could not keep running! There was NO pain from the fracture. It was sheer exhaustion! It was like my very first triathlon, but even then, I was able to push through the tiredness. I did brick training where you run off the bike and it went very well. So not sure what it was. Back to the wetsuit exhaustion? Not sure. But I noticed a gal ahead of me doing the exact same thing. Eventually, our walk and runs had us side by side.
Her name was Nicki and she said she liked my shirt (on the back, it said, "In honor of my friend's mom, Shirley...In memory of my mom, Jo..." Both of these women, victims of Ovarian Cancer. She said she was a cancer survivor, but with breast cancer. She was only in her 30s! Her last radiation treatment was just a few weeks earlier. I listened to her story and was so amazed at her determination. She didn't care if she was walking and running or what time it took her to do the course. She said this was her way of telling the cancer who is the boss of her and it was her. This was her first ever triathlon and she was going to finish it! We walked and ran together on the run course and decided to cross the finish line together as well. What a beautiful thing it was to be able to share this moment with her. I was honored to grab her hand, hold it high and cross that finish line. Tears of joy ran down her face. It was far better than getting any good time on my run.
In the end, this day's race would be my slowest ever. This was my 11th triathlon but my most inspiring one by far. I raced for my co-worker's mom in her end stages of ovarian cancer. I raced in memory of my mom who passed away from ovarian cancer. I raced for the many sponsors who graciously gave their money and encouragement for this very cause. I raced with Nicki who was going to show cancer, "You're not getting the best of me!" I raced for me to show myself I can overcome a sports related bone break and face my fear of getting back on the bike after that painful recovery. I raced...and finished. Goal met!
The other goal I met and exceeded, was raising $1000 for the Ovarian Cancer Research Fund. I busted the goal and although my fund raising page says it was $ 1170, it is really just shy of $1300! Some of the donations were matching corporate funds that haven't gone through yet. To all of you, thank you, thank you, thank you, for your support. I'm not sure how many women were on "Team Hope" this year (those racing and raising funds), but I ended up being #4 in amount raised. Now that's the best podium prize ever!
One last series of photos... Last year at this time, I found out my first grandbaby was about to be born. A little earlier than expected and RIGHT before the race. Talk about being defocused! I completed the race, but couldn't stop thinking about how soon, I was going to see this precious, little girl. This year, she sent me a text, via her Mama, of course, with the following pictures and messages:
"Go Gammy! I'm going to be a triathlete just like you! First the swim..."
"Then the stroller . . ."
"Then the run . . . "
After I told her I finished, but was slower than I had hoped, she sent me this:
"At least you finished, Gammy. Now you can take a nap with me!"
Happy Birthday, Sweet Pea! She'll be one on Tuesday, Jun. 11!
Thanks again, friends and family, for all your support and encouragement in all your unique ways!
Next up... I'm looking to do the Naperville Sprint Triathlon, Aug. 4th and redeem myself on that run!
