Plainsman
05-04-08, 03:41 PM
Thanks for all of the help, the least I can do is let you all know how it went. Here goes....
I could hardly sleep the night before (as usual), so by 4:30 I'm awake and ready to go. This is quite a feat when you realize I'm sharing a single room with my wife and 2 pre-schoolers! I had racked the bike the night before, so I left ASAP to finish setting up transtion while my better half prepared to rouse the young'uns. Quite a surprise when I saw the girls wearing custom Ts that said "Finish Well Daddy" on the front (a reference to an endurance ministry, see sig) and Run Bike Swim on the back. What a support crew!
The Swim: The lake was just as advertised - smooth as glass - wetsuit legal - and only about 9 feet deep at the deepest section (and yes, it really is a lake, 2 miles X 1 mile) It was a little chilly on the arms, but I was in my rented wetsuit and feeling pretty good. By the first buoy, I would say I was near the front of my wave. Good start so far. In my last 4 events, I've suffered from bizarre calf cramping in the swim. This one was no different. About half way through I feel them working up from the ankles. I was determined not to let it get to me, and focused on other things. Thought about my kids, this, that, even sang in my head. It's amazing how calming singing "Jesus loves me" in your head while starring at the bottom of a lake can be! Finally I emerge from the water (a Slow Swim), legs don't work at first, but finally find them and run to T1. The longest T1 in history I might add, as I think someone managed to apply superglue to the inside of my suit judging by how long it took to remove. At one point I wondered if I could just bike while wearing it. Oh well...
The Bike: I really enjoyed the bike. My nutrition plan worked well, and I was actually passing a lot more than I got passed. Zero cramping, or even a hint of it on the bike, which was a blessing. Heed and Endurolytes, I'm now a fan. After the swim, it was nice to feel fast. In retrospect, I feel like I can be pretty quick for about 45 miles, then I started to wane. Need to work on that endurance, but the bike is still by far my favorite leg of the three!
The Run: I remember asking one of the volunteers, you want me to run how far??? It surprised me how legs that felt so fresh on the bike were not there on the run. Must have left them on the bike! In any case after a brief jog/walk, the goop worked out of my quads and I was able to actually run. By this time the reality that I was actually going to finish one of these 70.3 things was setting in. This run was HOT. I live in the South, grew up with 100 degree days in the Summer, and this still felt hot. I'm not a runner, more so even than I'm apparently not a swimmer, so the heat did not help me. Thankfully, the plan of Heed, water, endurolytes was still working for me. It was during the run that I quit thinking about time. Sure, I said this was my first one, and that time wasn't really a big deal, but I think in the back of everyone's mind there's that competitive spot that drives us forward. Now it was just about finishing, and having fun. That's what I did. I laughed along the way. I tried to encourage those who were struggling (as I sometimes was one of them). When I saw my family on the course cheering it was like a triple shot of caffeine. It's hard to describe the feeling I had coming across the finish. Excitement, relief, a rush, you name it...If you've done it, you know what I mean.
I can honestly say, this was fun. I didn't expect to think that. I expected to be satisfied when (if) I finished, but that much suffering fun?. Somehow it was. Another answered prayer. Thanks again to all for the help and advice along the way. Now I want to do another!
For those married triathletes out there: If you have a spouse who follows you from event to event, kids in tow, don't forget that those gals (or guys) are doing a WHOLE different type of workout. I wish I had a big 'ole medal to hang around my wife's neck after all the effort she put into making the event possible for me. Guys, be sure to give them a night on the town!
I could hardly sleep the night before (as usual), so by 4:30 I'm awake and ready to go. This is quite a feat when you realize I'm sharing a single room with my wife and 2 pre-schoolers! I had racked the bike the night before, so I left ASAP to finish setting up transtion while my better half prepared to rouse the young'uns. Quite a surprise when I saw the girls wearing custom Ts that said "Finish Well Daddy" on the front (a reference to an endurance ministry, see sig) and Run Bike Swim on the back. What a support crew!
The Swim: The lake was just as advertised - smooth as glass - wetsuit legal - and only about 9 feet deep at the deepest section (and yes, it really is a lake, 2 miles X 1 mile) It was a little chilly on the arms, but I was in my rented wetsuit and feeling pretty good. By the first buoy, I would say I was near the front of my wave. Good start so far. In my last 4 events, I've suffered from bizarre calf cramping in the swim. This one was no different. About half way through I feel them working up from the ankles. I was determined not to let it get to me, and focused on other things. Thought about my kids, this, that, even sang in my head. It's amazing how calming singing "Jesus loves me" in your head while starring at the bottom of a lake can be! Finally I emerge from the water (a Slow Swim), legs don't work at first, but finally find them and run to T1. The longest T1 in history I might add, as I think someone managed to apply superglue to the inside of my suit judging by how long it took to remove. At one point I wondered if I could just bike while wearing it. Oh well...
The Bike: I really enjoyed the bike. My nutrition plan worked well, and I was actually passing a lot more than I got passed. Zero cramping, or even a hint of it on the bike, which was a blessing. Heed and Endurolytes, I'm now a fan. After the swim, it was nice to feel fast. In retrospect, I feel like I can be pretty quick for about 45 miles, then I started to wane. Need to work on that endurance, but the bike is still by far my favorite leg of the three!
The Run: I remember asking one of the volunteers, you want me to run how far??? It surprised me how legs that felt so fresh on the bike were not there on the run. Must have left them on the bike! In any case after a brief jog/walk, the goop worked out of my quads and I was able to actually run. By this time the reality that I was actually going to finish one of these 70.3 things was setting in. This run was HOT. I live in the South, grew up with 100 degree days in the Summer, and this still felt hot. I'm not a runner, more so even than I'm apparently not a swimmer, so the heat did not help me. Thankfully, the plan of Heed, water, endurolytes was still working for me. It was during the run that I quit thinking about time. Sure, I said this was my first one, and that time wasn't really a big deal, but I think in the back of everyone's mind there's that competitive spot that drives us forward. Now it was just about finishing, and having fun. That's what I did. I laughed along the way. I tried to encourage those who were struggling (as I sometimes was one of them). When I saw my family on the course cheering it was like a triple shot of caffeine. It's hard to describe the feeling I had coming across the finish. Excitement, relief, a rush, you name it...If you've done it, you know what I mean.
I can honestly say, this was fun. I didn't expect to think that. I expected to be satisfied when (if) I finished, but that much suffering fun?. Somehow it was. Another answered prayer. Thanks again to all for the help and advice along the way. Now I want to do another!
For those married triathletes out there: If you have a spouse who follows you from event to event, kids in tow, don't forget that those gals (or guys) are doing a WHOLE different type of workout. I wish I had a big 'ole medal to hang around my wife's neck after all the effort she put into making the event possible for me. Guys, be sure to give them a night on the town!