Part 3 Nation's ~ Up Hill Both Ways

I've never been so hungry as when I came out of the water! I ate a honey stinger before I put my bike shoes on. I even sat in the grass to eat, drink and put on my shoes. I needed a moment to gather myself before hitting the bike course.

THERE IS NO DOWNHILL

I admit it. I like to complain. I'm good at it. Of course, Coach Richie says I only complain with a smile on my face so it's hard to take me seriously...

But there was NO DOWNHILL! None, none at all. I was still a bit energy depleted at the start of this ride, but I kept up a good cadence, kept eating and drinking. About mile 6, I started to feel like I had some more to give and cranked up the speed. The course itself was well marked and rolling to flat. There was one section that was a long, gradual incline and on the other side of the road were cyclists going down and I was really excited to get to that part for some free wheeling. Except, there was no free wheeling! What the heck happened to the DOWNHILL! 

I've described routes I've ridden around home as having "no hills." But there were times I was still able to get low and go fast and free wheel. This course I didn't find any of that! It felt like a really long spin class- I hate spin class. My ride wasn't consistent. I would have loved to have a bike computer to give me my stats on this course. I'm still learning when to eat and what gear is most efficient. But as a race, it was my best to date.

Socialcizing!

Before the race, I told Richie I was setting my watch to run 40 seconds and walk 1:25. I was fudging what the doctor said would be acceptable- as long as my tendon didn't hurt. I pre-cut some kinesio tape to apply for the run and tried to get it on like the PT showed me. That didn't workout so well... but anyway, I was feeling all HTFU! I wanted to be done and I was 6.2 miles from a doughnut.

I met this awesome lady, Theresa from Baltimore who decided to hang with me on my intervals. We talked the entire way. I forgot I was "racing" and just ran or walked when the watch beeped. I also remembered to eat my last few chews, sugar really makes a difference! The course was fun, even though I didn't notice any of the monuments. ADHD or exhaustion?

Because I had someone to share the miles with, it didn't feel hard at all. Theresa, if you read this, THANK YOU SO MUCH! The only time my tendon hurt was the last little bit when I decided to run to the finish line for over 3 minutes... My tendon hated that and let me know just before the finish line. Ice and compression socks helped :D I felt great after this race, mentally and physically. Well, after the ice bath and a nap. GO TEAM!

Part 4 ~ Final Thoughts

Part 2 Nation's ~ The Terrible, Horrible, Mean Swim That Almost Made Me Cry

Wetsuit illegal!

Before we lined up, after transition closed.
Me trying to pretend I'm excited to race.

The morning was cool and clear. The water was 81 degrees! Water temp was big news over the weekend  and a lot of new athletes opted to wear wetsuits anyway, but they had to start last. My friend Dawn, total badass and all around hero, was really counting on wearing the wetsuit. She's not a strong swimmer and enjoyed the buoyancy the wetsuit provides. She told me, with complete confidence, that she didn't need the wetsuit; most of her practice swims had been without it anyway. She was going at this with absolutely no fear and I was already doubting myself. We left transition, to line up close to our corrals. Of my teammates, I started last. The first wave started at 7. I didn't start until 8:15. I did not plan to stand around that long. I ate my pre-swim food too soon. And in the chill dawn, my nerves came back three-fold! I was sitting by myself on the curb, when a queasy feeling settled in my stomach. I got up to work out some of the nerves. I watched the guys head to the ramp. I took my flip flops and shirt to bag drop. Then the ladies headed to the ramp. My leg started hurting, my stomach was still rumbling. For the first time in my life, I thought, "you don't have to do this."

WHAT!???!!!???!! 

I had wrapped my arms tight around me and not because of the cold, but because of fear! Drama queen much? Then my group was heading to the ramp and it was too late, too hectic to back out and I was in the water. The warm, surprisingly pleasant waters of the Potomac. The course was the best marked I've ever been on. Every 100 meters a big orange buoy marked down the distance. It should have been an easy swim.

Should've, could've, would've. 

I couldn't find the right body position. I had no rhythm and I was drifting way outside the course at the first buoy, before I over-corrected and a kyaker had to bring to attention that I was now inside the buoys at 150.  The next 50 meters was a mental nightmare. By the 200 meter buoy I was ready to wave my cap in the air and call it a day.

I was filled with the spirit of quit. Quit is easy. Quit is comfortable. Quit is my enemy. I had to suck up the quit and spit it back into the river and swim. And then things got really hard. At the 400 meter buoy the next wave group, the most competitive group of women, those 30-34's caught up with me and the swim went from a mental challenge to a straight up Royal Rumble.

People were slapping, elbowing, kicking, grabbing, climbing over me instead of swimming over me. I've never had my ankles grabbed a tugged on while swimming. Not a touch, a tug. Every time this happened, I stopped to tread water, regroup, look for open water and start up again. It was too much stopping and treading and restarting. I was tired and hungry and expending energy on going nowhere. I stopped again at the 900 meter buoy and was ready to cry. This was my worst swim ever. I didn't want to be here. I didn't want to fight any more. Quit was looking good.

Selfish much?

Why was I thinking of quitting because it was hard? If there is one thing Team In Training has taught me, it's we don't quit. There's no quit in TEAM! I was uncomfortable, not dying. If Anna can fight cancer as a kid, I can finish a swim that hurts my feelings. This race wasn't all about me. Quit had no business on the course. Quit is the Devil. Besides that, I said a prayer and recited Philippians 4:13 over and over, "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me."



See? Easy Peasy.

I finally got mad, mostly at myself, partly at the meanness of the other swimmers. I stopped stopping with every kick, tug, elbow and kept moving. I was getting out of the water and on with the weekend. I never found that sweet swimming spot, but I did make it out of the water. I have never been so happy to on dry land!

Part 1 Before the race      Part 3 Ride and Run