Reason No. 846 Why Everyone Should Have a Coach

aka, Harriman More-or-Less Olympic Distance Race Report

I was nervously anticipating this race because it was the first race that I had both planned to do (well, I planned to do Bassman, but only a few days ahead, this race had been on the calendar for awhile) and I had trained for it (unlike last year when most of my races were hope for the best type affairs). The anticipation was nervous because the water was expected to be VERY COLD and the bike was VERY HILLY (I rode the course last weekend, so knew this to be true - the statement that there would by 2800 feet of elevation gain over the 28 mile course was not a lie). We were in the first wave and were not slated to go off until 10:30 ... the ability to sleep in, and sleep in at home, was nice. Perhaps nice enough to make me forget the cold water and the insane course if I'm still in triathlon mode come next season. We'll see.

There were some logistical issues race morning but we arrived to the site with plenty of time to spare and were greeted by some pretty strong winds and not very warm temperatures. We registered and read, in awe, that the water was FIFTY-FOUR DEGREES (that's Fahrenheit, and that's cold!). Wetsuited up, I made my way into the lake with very little complaining and swam around for a bit. My face, hands and feet were quickly numb ... but it wasn't that bad.

The 'warm-up' should have served to 'cool us down' so that we were used to functioning in the cold water. Unfortunately, warm up/cool down ended and we were left to stand around in the sun, in our wetsuits and get warm before the swim started from the beach ... the beach start was a first for me but the gun went off and we were into the water ...

The Swim - belatedly victorious

And it was quite the shock to the system. Almost immediately people succumbed to (double armed?) backstroke and breast stroke. I made it around the first buoy and took a 30 second breather at a kayak ... and it was here the I learned reason No. 846 why its good to have a coach: when its cold and you're lips are blue and you're hanging out with the kayaker and it would be much easier to swim in and call it a day alot of things go through your head. For me, I knew that if I pulled out of this swim, I would never do another triathlon. I can't explain why, I just know me, and know that it'd be over. That would have a lot of ramifications - I'd probably loose touch with my triathlon friends, I'd have to figure out a new way to stay in shape, I'd have to find a thing to fill up my time and I'd have to tell people why I wasn't training and racing. The last two ramifications were the hardest to swallow in my 30 seconds with the kayaker. I took up triathlon to fill a void, and without it, that void would be back. I often joke about becoming a yogi, but honestly, I don't know that I could do yoga for 7-14 hours a week. I'd also have to tell my friends (all of whom would understand - I think my triathlon friends would get that this is such a commitment and sometimes its hard and understand with maybe a small bit of jealousy and a fair bit of smugness at being able to solider on and my 'other' friends would think that FINALLY I had seen the light and decided to adopt a more normal lifestyle), my family (who would, for the most part, think that I'd finally now have time to find a husband), my co-workers (who would wonder what on earth they were going to talk to me about now, and would probably think it confirmed that girls are weak and they shouldn't have hired one) and my coach. And this was the hardest. What would I say to Liz? Would she keep 'coaching' me if I refused to race? If not, would I be firing her? She's awesome, so I wouldn't want to do that. And even if it all worked out, I figured she'd think I was a dork for being a quitter and it would sort of vaguely remind me of being the girl growing up in the sporty town and being *encouraged* to play sports with balls and eye hand coordination and being AWFUL at them, always making the last out and feeling like such an outcast. And I don't want to be an outcast - I'm happy being the slow one in the group but I want to be in the group, and the coach more than the triathlon friends somehow makes me feel like part of the group. So, while a summer of margarita drinking at the beach and casual bike rides sounded fun, I assumed it was the hypothermia setting in and decided there was only one way out of the water and into the warm parking lot and that was around the next 2 buoys and so I thanked the kayaker and went on my way*. I swam for the next 22 or so minutes stopping only to realize again and again how horribly off course I was. I swam a circle around the triangle of buoys and finally, finally got out of the water. And even though it took 30:xx minutes until I crossed into transition (only 28 minutes of swimming though, there was a long, sandy run/walk out of the water) and even though it took several more minutes before I realized that I did in fact still have feet, hands and lips, I consider that swim a victory.

T1

Why is it so hard to get your wetsuit over your chip? There should be a better way. I put on socks, and a long sleever (and gloves, glasses, shoes and helmet) and 3:xx later I was out of there hoping to get warm on the bike.

The Bike - mission accomplished

I had two goals for this race: to ride the course faster than I did in the test ride the weekend before and to go faster than 29.8 mph on the downhill. I made the first goal with :50 to spare (finishing the 28 mile course in 2:14:xx) and went 32MPH ON THE DOWNHILL. Other than that, things were pretty much as I thought they would be. Because I knew sort of where I was at all times, I kept the computer on time and cadence and didn't worry about speed or distance. One of the people I rode the course with warned of two things: if you didn't slow down heading into the hairpins you'd skid out and crash and if you didn't gear down in advance of the big hill you'd drop your chain. Both happened, in fact one guy in front of me, dropped his chain and just fell over. I can't really articulate how giving and friendly some of the people in my tri-club are.

There were a large number of people riding the course in the race shirt, to a certain extent this might have been because they were too cold for sleeveless coming out of the ice bucket but, if not, what would they have done if they ran out of shirts? Did they really like that shirt so much that they opted for it over the one they brought from home?

T2

Nothing to see here. Carry on. 1:xx.

The Run - icing

Homemade icing. Not the overly sugary kind in the can. Despite being thirsty and it being hot and my legs being trashed and there not being enough water stops, I ran and I ran strong (for me). I was breathing hard for the first mile but I put my head down (metaphorically) and ran. For awhile, I thought I was cruising toward a 10K PR (in which case my coach would have gotten a raise, or at least some sort of coffee gift) but alas, the mile markers were off. But I finished only walking the water stops (of which there were not many) and running even splits and given all I had been through that day it was really more than I could have asked for. 1:03:xx

Later

After a nap and a shower some of the tri/running girls met up for beers and burgers. A fun way to end a fun (albeit long) day. Sore, full and sleepy with a smile on my face.

The end.

*If you doubt that I had all those thoughts in 30 seconds, I assure you I did. Which means that every night before you go to bed, you should count not having to live with my brain in your head among your blessings.