Today we went to the track at Summit High School to time our mile. Wow, that is a serious sports complex. The last time I set foot on an actual track was college and that was at the air force base in Austin and it was nothing like this place. I hope those kids at that school understand the opportunity and privilege they have with that facility. Well, we took full advantage of it on this rapidly heating day. After a couple of warm up laps, Jessica, Nick and I (in that order) starting at random intervals, began a 4 lap quest to reach our individual speed goals. Mine was an 8 minute mile. Nick had 7 minutes and Jess was shooting for 7 1/2. First, I must say that if there ever was a way to make running more boring it’s running on a track. That said, we had goals to reach and reach them we did. To get an 8 minute mile, each lap had to be 2 minutes. I made the first one in 1:30 so I knew I was golden. Plus, chasing Nick helped. The second lap was a bit slower and the third even slower but the last lap matched the second and my final time was 7:02. Beat my goal by nearly a minute. It felt great. It also pissed me off knowing I was capable of that speed yet have bonked on all my race runs. Ugh! I need to get a coach if I’m going to continue this madness. But… scratch another feat off the list.
Wow. Can’t believe it’s done. Over. Six months of training for an event that lasted a little over 3 hours. I almost feel cheated. But then again, I finished. And that was the original goal. To finish. I say original because after our last long distance run (8+ miles) I felt strong enough to shoot for an actual time goal. The night before the race I worked out timing for each leg plus the two transitions. For the swim I had 22 minutes. That was the time of my last river swim and I knew I could duplicate that no problem. I gave myself 5 minutes for each of the transitions knowing that was generous but allowing for the unexpected. For the bike I was shooting for a 1:30:00. That was significantly faster than what we had done in training but it was where I figured I could have the biggest impact in my overall time. For the run I gave myself an hour. I knew I’d be exhausted and would have to walk some but really thought it would be within reach. If everything went as planned I could get under 3 hours. The morning of the race I wrote in Sharpy on my forearms “I CAN” “I WILL”.
The Swim (1500 yards)
The week of the race I got very little sleep. Actually, at least two of the nights I imagined the full race in real time. Three hours laying in bed imaging every swim stroke, every hill climb, every turn on the run coarse, every element of the transitions. It was, to say the least, exhausting. Most of this anxiety was coming from the swim leg but the final river swim on the Tuesday before the race was solid and I felt if I could duplicate that then everything would be ok. As the race got closer, my anxiety turned to excitement and by the night before I was calm and collected and slept like a log. But reality set in on race morning as we made the 15 minute walk from the transition area to the swim entry point – I was about to do an Olympic-distance triathlon. My butterflies had butterflies. NIck and Jess seemed completely calm and confident. But rather than that being a comfort it only increased my anxiety. Both of them had done this before. They knew what to expect. They’re good swimmers. I was relying heavily on the strong current and the buoyancy of my wetsuit. The good news was I was in the “Try a Tri” swim wave which was the last to leave and I would be with other beginner swimmers. There were 17 of us – not too many, not too few. My goal was 22 minutes. But in reality, my goal was not to be the last one out of the water. It was clear after within just a few minutes after the gun I wasn’t going to be. I was able to keep with main group up until the last quarter of the leg and I started having trouble catching my breathe. I was relieved the “hard part” was almost over but the anxiety of the rest of the race began to sink in and I lost a little focus. When I hit the shore my watch read 00:20:36. Nice, already ahead of schedule.
Transition One
As I ran from the water to the transition area, stripping the wetsuit from my upper body and ecstatic the swim was over, I couldn’t help notice how heavy my legs felt already. Oh man, this was going to be a long 3 hours. I arrived at my bike to the cheers of a small but surprisingly loud crowd consisting of my lovely wife and kids and Nick and Jessica’s family. It sure was a nice feeling, particularly when there were so few bikes left. The good news is I had a lot of bunnies to chase. Confidently, I approached my setup, pushing my wetsuit down around my ankles as I had practiced in my training swims. The key is to get the legs of the suit as far down as possible and then pull one foot out while stepping on the suit with your other foot. It worked great in practice but not this time. As soon as I pulled my leg up, my calf seized up into what looked and felt like a softball. I screamed and cursed and dropped to the ground immediately yelling for a medic. People were talking to me but I don’t think I could respond. Besides the excruciating pain, all I could think about was that my race was over. Six months of training blowing away in the wind like fallen leaves. I kept yelling for a medic but none ever came. Valerie somehow managed to jump the barrier and proceeded to massage my calf which hurt worse but I knew it was my only chance of continuing. After a couple of seconds the muscle released and while I new I would feel it the rest of the race it seemed I could continue. I made it to my feet and prepped for the bike leg and with a sigh of relief I left transition one at exactly 00:05:00.
The Bike (25 miles)
Once on the bike, you immediately begin on a climb out to Century Drive. Nothing crazy but enough to make you go “Shit, here we go”. Mary and Justin Yax were kind enough to lend me a very nice wheel set for the race. They were twice as light as my factory wheels and gave me a tenth gear. Which should have helped with the 1500 ft elevation gain. But being this was the first time I’d ridden with them and never haven swum a mile prior to a 25-mile bike ride I really didn’t perceive much benefit. My goal for the bike portion was 01:30:00 which was faster than I had accomplished before but was attainable in my head. And like I said I had a lot of people to chase. I finally felt I was at a good pace after about 2 miles out. With my focus on my new aero bar setup and maintaining a proper tuck position, the miles were flying by. I was 2/3 through the climb before I knew it and still felt great but knew that last 2 miles before the turn around were the most challenging. I started seeing quite a few riders actually walking their bikes which blew me away. The last couple of miles I found myself behind a girl who’s pace never wavered. It was amazing. Slow and methodical. Almost annoyingly so. But as much as I tried I couldn’t get past her. Until we made it to the turnaround that is. This is were it really gets fun. 12.5 miles back and speeds pushing 40 mph. More if you have the right equipment. And the right legs. Brakes are not allowed. You put it in the big ring and you pedal until you spinout and then you pedal faster. It’s a rush you won’t soon forget. And while I didn’t break any personal speed records I held my own and passed everyone I saw in front of me. I purposely held back a bit because I knew I need to save something for the run. It was already getting Texas hot and I had another hour of running to accomplish. But as I rode back into the transition area I felt really good. Confident I would not just finish but actually meet my time goal. Along the barricades I see my wife and kids cheering me on. I’m overwhelmed with emotion and seriously tear up. I’ve worked so hard to get here. To a place I never imagined myself. An accomplishment I never considered possible for someone as non-athletic as myself. As I dismounted, my watch said 01:35:00. Right on my projected time. Holy shit, I have this.
Transition Two
Park the bike. Drop the helmet and gloves. Switch to my running shoes. Down a Gatorade. I’m off. No complications or surprises. 00:03:10.
The Run (10k)
At this point, finishing in under 3 hours is completely realistic. I’m not cramping. I feel pretty hydrated. I’m gonna need to walk at some point but overall I’m good. The first mile sucks. It’s flippin’ hot. I already find myself walking. Encouraging words from other racers keeping me going. But I find myself running only is spurts. I get to the halfway point of the first loop and I’m exhausted. I have nothing in the tank. I’m 20 minutes in to my hour. Not good. I’m begging for the next aid station. I feel like I’m drinking too much. I’m going to be sloshy and then I won’t run at all. Three quarters of the way through the first loop I’m overwhelmed with frustration. Only a week earlier, I had had the run of my life. A run much more difficult than this. And this course is second nature to me. We’ve done this course a hundred times. I could do it in my sleep. But here I am completely failing. I finish the first loop on fumes. Passing Valerie and the kids I struggle to look strong but it takes everything I have to keep shuffling my feet. At the aid station I down another Gatorade and pour countless cups of water on my head and body to cool down. I get a surge of energy but it only lasts a moment. I walk mostly. At this point most of the racers are now celebrating in the Old Mill courtyard. It’s al I can think about. I feel alone. I haven’t seen another racer in a while. Am I the last one out here. There’s no way. I run a little and walk some more. My body doesn’t hurt. I just can’t breathe. I have nothing in the tank. I joke with the volunteers along the course to help spare me the embarrassing silence broken by their kind but worn out words of encouragement. “Great job”, “You’re doing great.”, ” Keep pushing.” Fuck off. I’m tired. I want this to be over. I’m at the halfway mark of the second loop and it’s already been an hour. Damn. OK. It’s all about finishing now. At this point that’s even in question. I’m walking more than running. But I see several folks behind me now and that lights a fire. I’m not the last. They will not be waiting on me. I can still do this. Finishing was my original goal and I will be happy with that. Would have loved to have even beat Nick’s time from last year of 03:07:00. But it’s not going to happen. Just finish. You can still call yourself a triathlete. And that’s one mother of a badge of honor. All at 41 years old. Forty years off nothing athletic at all. And then a triathlon. Yeah, I can be proud of that. Pretty sure it would make my dad proud if he was still here. As I approach the last 100 yards, I see my wife has written “I CAN. I WILL” on the run with chalk. I feel a shot of adrenalin course through my veins and I sprint to the finish. 01:18:41
My first triathlon was completed. And I felt great. I set a goal. I completed that goal. A goal most people won’t ever attempt. This skinny kid that was always the last one to get picked for teams has now joined the elite club of multi-sport athletes. Here’s a big middle finger to all those kids in grade school who rolled their eyes in disappointment when they had to take me for their stupid kickball team.
As I stood with friends in post race jubilee, though, I began to feel a little off. I was then overcome with dizziness and thought I might pass out. I was helped to the shade of a tent and given fluids and ice and salty snacks. I was severely dehydrated. The whole race I made a point to hydrate to the point of too much but I was way off in my attempt. With the help of some really good friends and trainers, and of course my wife, I was able to nurse myself back to health over the next couple of hours without needing an I V (though in hindsight I wish I had just done that to begin with – would have had a much quicker recovery). Clearly I have a lot to learn about my body’s needs when it comes to sports nutrition and hydration. If I continue with this madness that will be a top priority.
So, 6 months, 3 hours and 18 minutes later… now what?
Filed under: General
As you might have seen on my Facebook status recently, I’ve finally registered for both the Deschutes Dash Triathlon and the Fresh Air Sports Duathlon series as well as the Pacific Crest Triathlon. Yes, you read that right. I got a wild hair and register for the tri and not the du. But after my first swim in months last night, it is clear I will not be prepared for open water in three weeks. Luckily, I can change my registration at packet pick up. Never the less, I’m excited about Pacific Crest and I’ll have 3 of the Fresh Air races under my belt by then (the first one is this Thursday) so I should be good and ready. Nick and I have had some good rides and brick workouts this past week and while the swim was disappointing I do feel stronger than ever.
OK. What did I say about the memory of pain subsiding with time. Here is 3 days later and I’m committing to another duathlon. The Pacific Crest Weekend Sports Festival is June 26-28 and features Endurance and Olympic Triathlons and Duathlons among other events. It will be Nick’s first tri of the year and now my second du. I’ll be doing the Olympic so it’s the same distance as the Deschutes Dash. As I mentioned in my previous post, I’m still debating if I’m actually going to do a tri. Besides, wouldn’t three duathlons be as or more impressive than one triathlon?
5k run. 18 mile bike ride. Another 5k run. 88 degrees. 2 hours, 1 minute 12 seconds. 52 out 79 competitors. This is the sum of my first duathlon. A success would have been to simply complete the race but, while I had hoped to finish in under 2 minutes, overall I’m very pleased with the outcome. Putting it in perspective of not doing anything athletic for the first 40 years of my life I can hold my head high with 52nd.
But if I can’t use that as an excuse then perhaps I’m one of those people just not cut out for athletic endeavors. After all, I come from a long line of people that are anything but active – much less athletes. And after today, I’m more inclined to believe I don’t belong in races. People have been telling me how I’m going to get addicted to doing triathlons. Apparently, they’re like Lay’s Potato Chips. But when I was done with the race today, I was done with racing. I could not imagine doing a triathlon. My wife and I overheard people talking about how great they felt, and already making plans for the next race. I was experiencing no runner’s high or rush of adrenalin or even mild sense of well-being. I just wanted to lie down and enter a coma. Which I came close to after a large helping of fajitas at La Rosa. But even upon awakening, my legs felt horrible and my head foggy. And I’ve been preparing for this since January. In fact, this isn’t even the farthest distance I’ve gone. Nick and Jessica and I had a 28 mile ride followed by a 5 mile run a couple weeks ago. And to be honest I felt a lot better after that than I did today but that may be due to the heat.
It wasn’t all whoa is me. I had my moments. Though I started the race (purposely) in the back half of the pack I did my fair share of moving up the ranks and never got passed myself. I had run the course the night before so I knew what to expect when. Once on the bike, I was more in my element and got into a nice pace fairly quickly. I did get passed twice early on but they both looked quite fresh so it’s my assumption they were part of teams and were only doing the bike leg. The rest of the ride I made up a ton of distance against those faster runners in front of me. I ended up overtaking about eight riders before the turn around point and then another 3 on the way back which was 90% downhill. I was being very careful to hydrate the entire ride (something I’m not usually good at) so by the time I got back to the transition point I felt a little less weary of the second run – legs were tired but lungs felt ok. But once I started the run I really notice all the liquid I had been taking in and was a bit sloshy for the first 10 minutes. It was making a bit sick and that, on temp approaching 90, I was finding myself walking every half mile. That dissolved all my hard work on the bike and I found myself back again with many of the runners I started with, including the guy in his late 70s I crossed the start and the finish line next to. The next few minutes were spent nuzzling the grassy knoll were my family had sent up camp – as if I had just been on a plane ride from hell and grateful to be back on solid ground.
That was my day. As the hours pass and I get more removed from the pain I could easily be talked back into thinking I can do the triathlon with ease. But now I know the truth. It’s not going to be easy. It may not even be smart, considering my 40 years of sloth. And while the past 5 months have been life changing and I do feel stronger and healthy than I’ve ever felt in my life. And I do, dare I say, crave my workouts now, I still don’t love this lifestyle. I’m not addicted. This could easily be my last race. I would have no problem with that. Fun to me is searching the internets while sippin’ on a half cherry, half cola Slurpee.
I will not gain the weight back. That is for certain. Being healthy is good. And it’s what has driven me to do this – for my family. But have I gone to the other extreme. And if so, how healthy is that? I have to honestly consider that somewhere in between is better for the future of my family.
Chatting with Valerie's friend Claira before the race.
Me and the old guy after the gun. This pic could have easily been taken at the finish line - except of course for the look of death on my face.
Back from the first 5k.
The transition to the bike leg went very smooth for my first ever transition.
Back for the second 5k.
The last quarter mile.
The last 20 feet.
In the immortal words of Deana Carter: "Did I shave my legs for this?"
My 3 fantastic reasons for all this punishment.
What I have discovered is blogging about exercise is so much harder than doing exercise. Ugh. Despite my silence on this blog, I have continued to train, adding long distance runs and sprints as well as a couple of brick workouts (a ride followed immediately with a run). I have my first duathlon this weekend – The Dual in The Desert. Wish me luck.
Thanks for checking in.
After a trip to Texas and a week of catch up at work, workouts are back in full swing. It’s been more than two weeks of bloglessness but there were a few runs decent runs that I never logged and there’s no reason to try and go back now.
Monday was our long run and it was great. 8 Miles in 65 minutes. Personal best. Later in the day I did another 8 miles on the bike up Awbrey Butte. Nice to be back in the saddle though I have not been taking care of my Felt and the gears are quite dirty. Add that ride to the 4 mile commute for the day and it’s 20 miles for the day. I’ll call that a good Monday and try to repeat that weekly.
Wednesday (yesterday) had another solid run. 5.6 miles along the river trail north. Had a time of 49 minutes which works out to 8.75 minute miles! Another personal best and getting close to that goal of 8.
And today I registered for the Duel In The Desert Duathlon happening at the end of May. It will be my first duathlon and first bike competition. Really looking forward to that.
Side note: Shaved the legs during the break to prep for bike training. It’s a strange, new experience. But I like it. Not sure my wife is into though – think it kinda freaks her out.
Filed under: General
Wow, bad week for working out. Tuesday I chose to skip swim class to stay home with the fam. And tonight I completely forgot. My last class and I forgot all about it. Oh well. Doubt I missed anything new. Just another workout. Damn. Probably best – my throat hurts.
Filed under: Running
With Nick recovering from the flu, I wound up doing my lunchtime run at 4 today. It was absolutely beautiful. And hot. Well, relatively. It was a tough run, mostly because I was seriously unmotivated. Kind of like how unmotivated I am to finish this post…
Filed under: Running
You’d think after running a 10k two days prior, a run I do three times a week would be be easy squeezey. Sadly, it was a pretty crappy run today. I struggled most of the way. Perhaps my diet isn’t getting me everything I need. Need to investigate.
