Malinda, Amy, Rebecca and Alicia
Breaking out the champagne!After six months of talking about it, reading about it, training for it, and obsessing over it... I finally did it! I truly enjoyed the journey, and after putting in all the time and hard work in training, finishing the race was just the icing on the cake. I don't think I really knew why I signed up for this race in the first place, except that it sounded awesome and it was one more cool thing to "check off my list." Of course it turned out to be so much more than that, and I am so grateful that I had the opportunity to experience this with some of my very best friends, Malinda, Rebecca and Alicia. I am also very grateful to have such an unselfish and supportive husband who really made this all possible in so many ways.
I really didn't have any goals for this race except to finish. I had heard the horror stories about this particular 70.3 - the hills, the heat, and the wind were all supposed to be a challenge. So I decided that simply finishing would be great especially since this was my first half ironman. If I did it under 7 hours, I would be very happy and I felt that was a pretty reasonable expectation. Here's how it all unfolded...
I really didn't have any goals for this race except to finish. I had heard the horror stories about this particular 70.3 - the hills, the heat, and the wind were all supposed to be a challenge. So I decided that simply finishing would be great especially since this was my first half ironman. If I did it under 7 hours, I would be very happy and I felt that was a pretty reasonable expectation. Here's how it all unfolded...
We arrived in Lubbock on Friday, two days before the race. I went to the Expo and packet pick-up and was shaking in my sneakers! :-) Everyone looked so fit and much more capable than me! I figured the rest of the "average" people would show up on Saturday... but the next day, I only saw even more super cool triathletes.
It was extremely hot on Saturday, with temperatures right around 100 degrees. My training buddies and I drove the course, and I was breaking a sweat riding in the car with the air conditioner on. The hills looked pretty intimidating, and it was just incredibly hot outside. We saw several more seriously fit athletes out there riding portions of the course, and I was starting to really think that this race was out of my league! I had no idea how I would get through that course in the heat, but Malinda kept reminding me to trust my training... so that is what I tried to do!
As we were driving out to the race at 4:30 in the morning, we noticed lightening in the distance and the wind was really picking up. I was pretty sure that they would have to postpone the race, if not cancel it. When we pulled up to the parking lot, I looked around and no one else seemed remotely concerned or even seemed to notice the lightening. The good thing is that it was a lot cooler than the day before, but I was so ready to back out. I don't do lightening... and I don't have too much experience riding in the rain especially down curvy hills going in and out of canyons. I was freaking out just a little bit. Malinda and I both agreed that if the lightening continued, we would have to find another race on another day. I was secretly hoping that it would continue!
It was extremely hot on Saturday, with temperatures right around 100 degrees. My training buddies and I drove the course, and I was breaking a sweat riding in the car with the air conditioner on. The hills looked pretty intimidating, and it was just incredibly hot outside. We saw several more seriously fit athletes out there riding portions of the course, and I was starting to really think that this race was out of my league! I had no idea how I would get through that course in the heat, but Malinda kept reminding me to trust my training... so that is what I tried to do!
As we were driving out to the race at 4:30 in the morning, we noticed lightening in the distance and the wind was really picking up. I was pretty sure that they would have to postpone the race, if not cancel it. When we pulled up to the parking lot, I looked around and no one else seemed remotely concerned or even seemed to notice the lightening. The good thing is that it was a lot cooler than the day before, but I was so ready to back out. I don't do lightening... and I don't have too much experience riding in the rain especially down curvy hills going in and out of canyons. I was freaking out just a little bit. Malinda and I both agreed that if the lightening continued, we would have to find another race on another day. I was secretly hoping that it would continue!
As I was setting my things up in transition, I realized that there was no backing out. The professional wave started, and I looked down at the lake and saw how choppy the water was due to the wind. At least it was cool, probably about 70 degrees at that point with strong wind gusts. My age group was the second to last to start, and I was getting more nervous waiting. At that point, I just wanted to get started. Before I knew it, we were running into the water...
The swim was a lot tougher than I anticipated. I kept getting kicked and hit over the head, which was really more annoying than anything. The choppiness was not fun, and I swallowed several mouth fulls of water... I am sure I looked like I was half drowning, but I got through it. It was like I was either swimming with a tight group and fighting for a spot or I was lost and swimming way off course. I never could really find my own space and my own rhythm. I was hoping to finish the 1.2 mile swim in about 40 minutes, but it took me 47:30 . When I got out of the water, the wetsuit strippers had me on the ground and out of my wetsuit very quickly. I was glad they were there to help because I was feeling a bit disoriented and forgetting what I needed to do next. There were not very many bikes left in transition by the time I got there which was a little discouraging... but off I went on my bike. (Transition 1: 3:22)
The ride was what I was most worried about for this race, but it actually turned out pretty good. I even had fun riding in the rain and through the hills. There were two big hills right out of transition that everyone had told me about. They were tough because my heart rate was already up from swimming, but I got through them just fine and headed out to the flat roads. The wind was either pushing me along or blowing right in my face depending which direction I was going. I tried to take advantage of the wind at my back but I was definitely worried about pushing too hard too soon. There were some pretty steep and curvy hills that we had to go up and then come back down, which looked scary to me when we drove the course the day before... but I got through this and felt pretty decent doing it. However, I was very relieved when I was finished with this "technical" section of the course. I felt like I did a good job staying hydrated and taking in calories. I knew that all of the long rides that I had done in training really paid off. I was by no means fast, but I felt good, and that is how it should be!
I know this is way too much information and I hope I do not offend anyone... but I have to include this because it is something that I never thought I would do and I kind of feel like I am a "real triathlete" because I did it... I peed on my bike! I always heard that triathletes just pee on the bike because they don't want to take the time to stop, but since I wasn't going to win this thing, I wasn't worried about stopping. However, there were no port-o-potties on the bike course and it is illegal to stop and go in the bushes... So after about an hour of convincing my body that it would be okay to just go ahead and pee on the bike, I finally did it. At first, my body would only allow itself only a little relief and the dam would close up. But soon enough I couldn't stop peeing. I think I went for an hour straight. I definitely was not dehydrated! It was so bad and I was laughing at myself because other people would ride up behind me and I didn't even care at all... that really cracked me up, although I felt pretty gross doing it. Anyway, after 3:41:41, I finally finished the bike portion and it was time to put on my running shoes. (Transition 2: 3:06)
I have always thought that for what I lack on the bike, I make up for in the run. It's not that I think I am fast, but in the shorter races that I have done, I have been able to make up some ground on the run... and that was the plan for this race. But as it turned out, this was not my day for a strong finish. It started out okay, as I felt good coming off of the bike and I was pretty confident that I would finish in under 7 hours at that point... but after I made it out of the park, my left knee started hurting so badly. I am not sure why this happened, as I have not had any knee issues or anything during training. So I ended up doing an uncontrolled run/walk sort of thing for the entire run, which is never fun. I was having terrible stomach cramps and bloating in addition to my knee pain, and although the pain was probably physically tolerable, it turned mental real fast and I soon talked myself out of any hope for finishing in under 7 hours. I kept saying to myself, "slow and steady finishes the race!" This is the only regret that I have... I should have pushed through the pain and ran like I know I can. Like Malinda has been telling me, "If it were easy, everyone would do it!" Run time 2:29:08 (ugh!) Total race time: 7:04:49.
It was so nice to see Rebecca at the finish line and to just be DONE. I felt an immediate sense of relief and accomplishment. But more than anything, I could not wait to get back to the hotel to take a shower (did I mention that I urinated all over myself on the bike?!? Gross!). I was pretty tired, but okay overall. It was a wonderful experience, but as of today, I am not sure that I will do this distance again, never mind a full ironman. BUT, the thing with triathlon is that it is so addicting. It is hard not to want another shot at it, and I find myself thinking, if I would have swam 10 minutes faster and done my run 30 minutes faster like I know I am capable of doing, then I would have finished in X amount of time. I think that is part of what makes people want to keep going back.
For some reason, Graham really wants me to do a full ironman, and he is saying that he is going to do it with me. So if I ever do the full ironman, I think I will wait to experience it with him. THAT would be really cool. For now, the next big race on my calendar is the Marine Corps Marathon on October 25th. I love looking forward to the next big journey!
The ride was what I was most worried about for this race, but it actually turned out pretty good. I even had fun riding in the rain and through the hills. There were two big hills right out of transition that everyone had told me about. They were tough because my heart rate was already up from swimming, but I got through them just fine and headed out to the flat roads. The wind was either pushing me along or blowing right in my face depending which direction I was going. I tried to take advantage of the wind at my back but I was definitely worried about pushing too hard too soon. There were some pretty steep and curvy hills that we had to go up and then come back down, which looked scary to me when we drove the course the day before... but I got through this and felt pretty decent doing it. However, I was very relieved when I was finished with this "technical" section of the course. I felt like I did a good job staying hydrated and taking in calories. I knew that all of the long rides that I had done in training really paid off. I was by no means fast, but I felt good, and that is how it should be!
I know this is way too much information and I hope I do not offend anyone... but I have to include this because it is something that I never thought I would do and I kind of feel like I am a "real triathlete" because I did it... I peed on my bike! I always heard that triathletes just pee on the bike because they don't want to take the time to stop, but since I wasn't going to win this thing, I wasn't worried about stopping. However, there were no port-o-potties on the bike course and it is illegal to stop and go in the bushes... So after about an hour of convincing my body that it would be okay to just go ahead and pee on the bike, I finally did it. At first, my body would only allow itself only a little relief and the dam would close up. But soon enough I couldn't stop peeing. I think I went for an hour straight. I definitely was not dehydrated! It was so bad and I was laughing at myself because other people would ride up behind me and I didn't even care at all... that really cracked me up, although I felt pretty gross doing it. Anyway, after 3:41:41, I finally finished the bike portion and it was time to put on my running shoes. (Transition 2: 3:06)
I have always thought that for what I lack on the bike, I make up for in the run. It's not that I think I am fast, but in the shorter races that I have done, I have been able to make up some ground on the run... and that was the plan for this race. But as it turned out, this was not my day for a strong finish. It started out okay, as I felt good coming off of the bike and I was pretty confident that I would finish in under 7 hours at that point... but after I made it out of the park, my left knee started hurting so badly. I am not sure why this happened, as I have not had any knee issues or anything during training. So I ended up doing an uncontrolled run/walk sort of thing for the entire run, which is never fun. I was having terrible stomach cramps and bloating in addition to my knee pain, and although the pain was probably physically tolerable, it turned mental real fast and I soon talked myself out of any hope for finishing in under 7 hours. I kept saying to myself, "slow and steady finishes the race!" This is the only regret that I have... I should have pushed through the pain and ran like I know I can. Like Malinda has been telling me, "If it were easy, everyone would do it!" Run time 2:29:08 (ugh!) Total race time: 7:04:49.
It was so nice to see Rebecca at the finish line and to just be DONE. I felt an immediate sense of relief and accomplishment. But more than anything, I could not wait to get back to the hotel to take a shower (did I mention that I urinated all over myself on the bike?!? Gross!). I was pretty tired, but okay overall. It was a wonderful experience, but as of today, I am not sure that I will do this distance again, never mind a full ironman. BUT, the thing with triathlon is that it is so addicting. It is hard not to want another shot at it, and I find myself thinking, if I would have swam 10 minutes faster and done my run 30 minutes faster like I know I am capable of doing, then I would have finished in X amount of time. I think that is part of what makes people want to keep going back.
For some reason, Graham really wants me to do a full ironman, and he is saying that he is going to do it with me. So if I ever do the full ironman, I think I will wait to experience it with him. THAT would be really cool. For now, the next big race on my calendar is the Marine Corps Marathon on October 25th. I love looking forward to the next big journey!
Great race report Amy! I also said (shortly after my first half IM) that I would never have a desire to do a full IM-so never say never...I'm just sayin:-)!!!
ReplyDeleteSeriouly, it is a great accomplishment that many don't set out to do (and I mean many that would like to) and you DID IT!!! Setting the goal, putting in long training hours, and managing day to day family life is not easy but it does make the reward much sweeter. I'm so proud of you and so happy to share that day with you.
Great Job Amy! And great story-telling! I felt like I was right there with you... except thank goodness for my non-athletic self, I wasn't!I am impressed and thankful for my restroom! LOL =)
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