Nashvegas Olympic Tri (#4) - 3:16:32 Results
Date - September 7, 2013
Location - Ashland City, TN
Weather - Mid 70's early morning, low 80's mid-day, very foggy swim start
Conditions - setup, night before, week before, training, shoes, muscles/fatigue?
Physically I felt great. I was well prepared for the distance, and the swim challenge. I had just moved to Nashville two weekends prior to the race so was lucky to have those 2 weeks for a taper. Drove to Ashland City the Saturday before to get familiar with the course. I biked the entire route (which included several wild hogs, some gorgeous scenery and a feisty pit bull) then ran 4 out of the 6 miles. I took my recovery shake down to the water to rest, take in the view & make peace with the river! As I walked to the dock I passed a couple of guys getting a feel for the swim - they were doing the sprint race and encouraged me as we talked about the water and our expectations. It was so nice to meet fellow racers! Made me miss old training buddies.
Anyway, I did my first hill run of the final week that Tuesday (every run here is a hill run apparently) and logged a few miles at the local park nearby later in the week. I managed to get one swim in with a trial visit to the local Y. Didn't realize how much I missed the luxuries of Lifetime! It was nice & homey (homie?) but fairly small for the amount of square footage it consisted of. It was like everyone and their mom were crammed into one long room. Thankfully the pool wasn't as crowded. I slipped into a lane and along with the company of a 60+ year old woman in headphones on that split the lane with me I was able to get a good 1400 in. Should've done more but wasn't feeling it. I felt off - like out of place. I was over-thinking my stroke, my legs were tired from that dang hill run, and the panic was starting to set in. In a few days I would be in the middle of the Cumberland, practically on my own, striving to accomplish something I never imagined possible. "What am I doing here?" I thought to myself as I ended the swim 200m short. Satan's lied to me for many years, and here I was believing another... that I couldn't do this. That I didn't have it in me. That I was stupid for thinking it was possible. And that I might as well give up. (Good thing it wasn't his help I needed getting across the river that day!) Needless to say I exited my final week worn out, emotionally & physically.
This training season was the best yet. I had started eating more clean foods & watching sugars so I felt pretty good over the past few months. Runs and rides weren't a problem, it was the water I had to get comfortable with again and I had to do it every time I suited up. It never came natural to me, and I never ever looked forward to it! After Lesley Brainard's help with Showman I called on her to customize a plan to get me through the 1500m. 2 swims per week with longer non-stop swims to build endurance sure built my confidence. Knowing I had two 1600s under my belt going in helped make the Cumberland look less scary, at least til I saw the fog that morning...
Physically I felt great. I was well prepared for the distance, and the swim challenge. I had just moved to Nashville two weekends prior to the race so was lucky to have those 2 weeks for a taper. Drove to Ashland City the Saturday before to get familiar with the course. I biked the entire route (which included several wild hogs, some gorgeous scenery and a feisty pit bull) then ran 4 out of the 6 miles. I took my recovery shake down to the water to rest, take in the view & make peace with the river! As I walked to the dock I passed a couple of guys getting a feel for the swim - they were doing the sprint race and encouraged me as we talked about the water and our expectations. It was so nice to meet fellow racers! Made me miss old training buddies.
Anyway, I did my first hill run of the final week that Tuesday (every run here is a hill run apparently) and logged a few miles at the local park nearby later in the week. I managed to get one swim in with a trial visit to the local Y. Didn't realize how much I missed the luxuries of Lifetime! It was nice & homey (homie?) but fairly small for the amount of square footage it consisted of. It was like everyone and their mom were crammed into one long room. Thankfully the pool wasn't as crowded. I slipped into a lane and along with the company of a 60+ year old woman in headphones on that split the lane with me I was able to get a good 1400 in. Should've done more but wasn't feeling it. I felt off - like out of place. I was over-thinking my stroke, my legs were tired from that dang hill run, and the panic was starting to set in. In a few days I would be in the middle of the Cumberland, practically on my own, striving to accomplish something I never imagined possible. "What am I doing here?" I thought to myself as I ended the swim 200m short. Satan's lied to me for many years, and here I was believing another... that I couldn't do this. That I didn't have it in me. That I was stupid for thinking it was possible. And that I might as well give up. (Good thing it wasn't his help I needed getting across the river that day!) Needless to say I exited my final week worn out, emotionally & physically.
This training season was the best yet. I had started eating more clean foods & watching sugars so I felt pretty good over the past few months. Runs and rides weren't a problem, it was the water I had to get comfortable with again and I had to do it every time I suited up. It never came natural to me, and I never ever looked forward to it! After Lesley Brainard's help with Showman I called on her to customize a plan to get me through the 1500m. 2 swims per week with longer non-stop swims to build endurance sure built my confidence. Knowing I had two 1600s under my belt going in helped make the Cumberland look less scary, at least til I saw the fog that morning...
Report: Race morning went good. My parents had drove up the night before so by 5:30am we had grabbed some coffee & were out the door. The entire drive was in complete fog and I just prayed it would lift by the time we arrived. Nope.
I went ahead & setup transition, got marked but 30 minutes and one portapotty trip later it still hadn't lifted. They called us to the ramp for instructions and pointed us in the general direction of the three buoy's we were supposed to round. I decided to stay in the middle of the pack - since I couldn't see them I'd just follow everyone else that was doing the same thing. Good thing someone up front knew where they were join. Our wave was called and we all slid down the ramp into the surprisingly warm water. Granted, I had been praying about this race leg for weeks now, but once I hit the water my eyes went straight up!! Thankfully the photographer captured that divine moment and I'm glad she did.
If it weren't for the Good Lord I wouldn't have been able to make that swim. I'm so blessed to be able to do what I love! For me it was a moment that really showed how we have to lean on Him and that when we do, He will carry us.
I took off, remembering what Lesley had said about staying calm at the beginning, slowing my pace and settling in. Of course that's difficult to do when your heart rate is off the charts, but it got better. I was able to settle into a 3 stroke rhythm for the most part, alternating between 2's and backstroke every 100m or so. This helped break the swim into bite size chunks I could manage. The fog finally started to lift halfway to the first buoy. I was so excited! I could see!! Other than a little water up the nose, an occasional head-on with other swimmers and kicking a stick that I swore was a snake it didn't go too shabby. I came out of the water in just under 40 min averaging a 2:37/100m which is slow for most, but good enough for me that day. Next time it's on though.
If it weren't for the Good Lord I wouldn't have been able to make that swim. I'm so blessed to be able to do what I love! For me it was a moment that really showed how we have to lean on Him and that when we do, He will carry us.
I took off, remembering what Lesley had said about staying calm at the beginning, slowing my pace and settling in. Of course that's difficult to do when your heart rate is off the charts, but it got better. I was able to settle into a 3 stroke rhythm for the most part, alternating between 2's and backstroke every 100m or so. This helped break the swim into bite size chunks I could manage. The fog finally started to lift halfway to the first buoy. I was so excited! I could see!! Other than a little water up the nose, an occasional head-on with other swimmers and kicking a stick that I swore was a snake it didn't go too shabby. I came out of the water in just under 40 min averaging a 2:37/100m which is slow for most, but good enough for me that day. Next time it's on though.
My poor daddy!! He looks a bit worried don't he? Not sure he believed I was actually having fun out there. The olympic swim went under the bridge, across then back with the half distance going a bit farther out. Got my new goal. :)
Transition could've been faster but I was feeling awesome so I reveled in it a minute while I downed some gatorade. Even stole a few seconds to text mom that I was out of the water so she wouldn't worry. Too bad she never got it (due lack of usability). We told her to get an iPhone but noooo…
I had biked the course the weekend before so I knew what I had to look forward to. Didn't expect the bee that stung me 5 miles in though. Thankfully the pit bull & wild hogs had better things to do this weekend. I felt strong on the bike - I guess passing guys does that to a girl. I took a couple gu during the ride, the 2nd one right before getting off. As I started the run I jumped into an 8-8:30 pace like always do for the first mile, then the weight sets in. I slowed to a 10 for a mile or so til a friendly guy about my pace decided to stick with me and chat. It was nice having someone to talk to, and to push you cuz Lord knows I ain't gonna walk when the person with me is running! The run was along the Cumberland River Bicentennial Trail - gorgeous area. We stayed together til about mile 4 when he decided to extend his water break a little longer than I preferred. At this point he was starting to slack on pace but being that he didn't run a mile to train for this I thought he did pretty good considering. I wrapped up the last couple miles which included a few small hills and a couple splashes of water to the face - it was hot!! Seeing mom & dad as I turned to enter the chute was nice & comforting... I was so glad to have someone there, and to have their support as well as their company for the rest of the weekend. Guess you could say I'm one very blessed triathlete! :)
