Run Run Away

Question:

So this little newbie went to race… Cap, suit, goggles, check. Bike, tennies, shorts, helmet, socks, water bottle. Check. Um, tennies, again? Check. Oh, what the heck, guess I’ll throw in a towel Gorgeous, absolutely fantastic day. Goal: finish the race. Greatest fear: half-way through the run someone stopping me and saying "Ma’am? Everyone else is done…you’ll have to stop now." Pool swim (600yd in a 25 yd pool) I registered late, so I’m almost last, regardless of a respectable 11:30 time. I stood out of line so I could watch (my glasses are at T1.) "Number 72 into the water." That’s me. My last thought as they count down: "What the hell am I doing?!" Stroke, stroke, stroke…pass several people, only get passed by a few. Jog to T1. I’m *really* happy I got here *really* early this morning– My bike is first, so I can find it without my glasses. Time:11:45 T1: What dodn’t anyone explain just *how* hard it is to pull biking shorts onto a wet body? I can see now, and I’m following the guy in front of me. 15 mile bike: Hey, I’m aero–even though I appear to be the *only* one w/o aero bars. At least I brought my towel (wouldn’t want to look like a *total* newbie). Push, push, push…get passed by lots of people. Hey, that woman is pedalling while going down hill! I thought you were supposed to coast. Guess I’ve got a lot to learn… Five miles in start drinking water. Mmmm. (Skip a lot of riding and two dogs–little adrenaline rush there.) T2: Look people are already done. Hmmm. Nevertheless, those people make room for me with comments like "Outta her way–she’s comin’ into T2!" Take off helmet, rack bike, jog  off. Time: 1:12:00. 4.5 mile run: This gets ugly, folks. Run first mile, succumb to calf cramp during second. Run, run, run, walk, walk, run, run, run, walk, walk (repeat for one mile.) And make that run slowly. Get passed by woman old enough to be my grandmother. Try really hard no to be resentful. After all, I tell myself, she’s undoubtably had longer to train. Hit my real running stride about one mile from the end. Make good time for last mile. Last runner in. Everyone cheers–I think they want to go home. Time: 2:05:00 Win $50 gift certificate as door prize. Husband says I smell terrible, but can continue to race as long as I make money (entry fee was $25.) Additional bonus: husband says over dinner, "You know, if I learned to swim, I bet I could do that." Ah ha! Bought husband running shoes next day. Heh heh heh. To make a long story short(too late!) I ran, I finished, I loved every sweaty minute of it! The Chlorine Kid

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So this little newbie went to race… Cap, suit, goggles, check. Bike, tennies, shorts, helmet, socks, water bottle. Check. Um, tennies, again? Check. Oh, what the heck, guess I’ll throw in a towel

[Snip] To make a long story short(too late!) I ran, I finished, I loved every sweaty minute of it! The Chlorine Kid

Congratulations!  I’m glad you simply threw in A towel and not THE towel! See you at the races! Bob Johnson USATri #129999

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Chlorine Kid… Welcome. Wonderful story.  You’d be amazed at how many people are on the sidelines thinking "hey, I bet I could do that" Bruce Ackman

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Hi I’ve been following this newsgroup since last year and have found all the advice and opinions really helpful – on Sunday I completed my first sprint distance tri and wanted to share my experience with you guys. Not sure if anyone remembers my postings last year regarding my inability to swim anything more than 50m without getting severely out of breath, but I stuck at it, slowly improved and on Sunday I managed to get through a 1km open water swim. I was slow I admit (27 minutes!) but I was determined to make it to the ramp – I swam badly off course, my navigation was poor, the kicking and being hit by other swimmers kept upsetting whatever rhythm I had going, but I persevered…..I won’t forget that feeling of making it to dry land for a very long time! I enjoyed the bike leg (averaging 20mph for 20k) and I felt strong on the run (19.40 for 5k) and the feeling when I crossed the finish line in 1.27 was awesome. I know I have much work still to do on my swim but I feel like I have got through a huge barrier…..here’s to many more tri’s in the future!! Thanks for listening! Steve Speirs PS I am also working on a triathlon website which is still in it’s very early are more than welcome. I also have a page where you can buy all the latest gear some feedback on this page! Thanks again! Steve

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Congrats.  Good Job.

– Hide quoted text — Show quoted text – Hi I’ve been following this newsgroup since last year and have found all the advice and opinions really helpful – on Sunday I completed my first sprint distance tri and wanted to share my experience with you guys. Not sure if anyone remembers my postings last year regarding my inability to swim anything more than 50m without getting severely out of breath, but I stuck at it, slowly improved and on Sunday I managed to get through a 1km open water swim. I was slow I admit (27 minutes!) but I was determined to make it to the ramp – I swam badly off course, my navigation was poor, the kicking and being hit by other swimmers kept upsetting whatever rhythm I had going, but I persevered…..I won’t forget that feeling of making it to dry land for a very long time! I enjoyed the bike leg (averaging 20mph for 20k) and I felt strong on the run (19.40 for 5k) and the feeling when I crossed the finish line in 1.27 was awesome. I know I have much work still to do on my swim but I feel like I have got through a huge barrier…..here’s to many more tri’s in the future!! Thanks for listening! Steve Speirs PS I am also working on a triathlon website which is still in it’s very early they are more than welcome. I also have a page where you can buy all the latest gear like some feedback on this page! Thanks again! Steve

Response:

I’ve been following this newsgroup since last year and have found all the advice and opinions really helpful – on Sunday I completed my first sprint distance tri and wanted to share my experience with you guys.

Congratulations! You are now a triathlete. Resistance is futile. You will want to TRI more David / FEY2K – IMCA2000 16:53 (remove spaces) at att dot net

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