I am a TRIATHLETE!--Goose's personal account

The alarm rang at 5:15am and the day dawned foggy, warm, and humid. My sister Maverick, my dear friend and accidental trainer H, and myself were in a hotel up near Lake Lanier Islands.

The night before we had checked in and driven the bike course and run course to get a feel for what we could expect. The bike course had several suprisingly wicked hills, but with the hilly route H and I trained on, and Maverick's mad spin classes she had taken at the Y all winter, along with the killer road bike I borrowed for her to use down here, we all felt pretty confident that although it wasn't an easy course, our training was sufficient to see us through it.

The run course, at the time, seemed pretty straight forward. A few hills, but nothing that H and I couldn't conquer, as we had trained on hills in our runs, and Mav was planning on walking most of the 5k portion due to her knee injury. So, bike-check, run-check.

We went down to check out the lake and the swim course, and it seemed doable, but what seemed crazy was the very lengthy incline, then straight up hill run to the transition area. I just kept thinking, gee, I am sure glad I am in good shape, I feel sorry for everyone who didn't train much for hills, because this will be a very hilly triathlon!

We had a carb heavy dinner at an italian restaurant and headed back to the hotel to practice our transition strategy and get in bed by 10pm.

Backing up a bit, I had been sick all week. I never get sick. It was such a major bummer to me. The weekend before I had flu-like symptoms of body aches, fever, swollen and painful glands, sore throat and beginnings of a cough. I laid low for about 3 days and thought I was feeling better by Tuesday. Then the cough really started kicking in once the other symptoms were gone, and my sinuses started to pack up. By Friday, with all the incessant coughing, I lost my voice. At that point I just had to let it go and pray that God would just give me what I needed to get through it because I worked so hard to prepare. I just decided it was mind over matter, and the sickness didn't matter!

So back to the dawning of the day. Alarm off at 5:15am. None of us slept well. Thankfully, God mercifully quieted my cough for that one night so I didn't drive H and Mav crazy. But I remember at one point saying out loud in case someone else was still awake, "maybe you could just hit me over the head with a frying pan so I could be out cold for at least a little bit of the night". Maverick answered.

I used my sleepless night to pray over my potential issues during the race, including my illness, stamina and energy, and, um, personal biological functions that can get in the way of runners. Especially runners who have had four large children. Ahem, I'll let your mind wander with what that means. I took the "no request is too great or too small for our God to care about" very seriously and prayed very specifically for certain things. Wouldn't you know, in the end, He gave me everything I asked for and needed on race day. He is cool like that. Yay, God.

We needed to rack our bikes in the transition area between 6-6:30am, so we got our stuff together quickly, downed a cup of coffee and a banana and headed over. It was very foggy, but warm and already humid.




We found a spot between the bike start and the run start out of the transition and set up shop. Then we spent the remainder of the time worrying about our biological functions and going back and forth to the bathroom. :)








My husband arrived with my two older girls at 7:30am. They were our camera crew and they did a phenomenal job capturing the race. It meant so very much to me to have them there. My husband, especially, has been so supportive of all the time I've taken to work out and obsessively prepare the last 6 months.

30 minutes before start time I swallow a Goody's powder, which is Acetominiphen and Aspirin, 2 sudafed, and suck on a zinc lozenge.

It was time to head down for the swim. Maverick and I were in the 35-39 year old pink wrist band group, and H was in the 40-44 year old yellow band group. They were starting age groups in 3 minute intervals. About 100 people were in our female age group and when it was our groups turn to start we stepped out into the water and I went right up to the front. I knew this was going to be a good leg for me, as I am a strong swimmer, and I didn't want to get jostled around by the ones who didn't know what they were doing. My strategy was to get out ahead right away so I could have a smooth, unencumbered swim.

H was all nervous as this was her personal weakest event, although not weak by most peoples standards, just hers. We were trying to keep her calm before our group was called as she went after us. I felt calm, not nervous at all, more anticipatory and excited.

The countdown. 10, 9, 8, 7,...,3,2,1. I was off. I told myself, this is just a swim workout. Took me a couple moments to get used to the fact that I could not see in the water and there were no lane ropes guiding me in a straight line like in my practice pool, but very quickly I was out in front, unencumbered and got a great rhythm going. I actually caught up to the group that started right before us, and at that point I got kicked a couple times as I tried to find my own area to swim through some of them. I freestyled the entire 1/4 mile, never stopping once, felt very proud of that. My goal was to do it in under 10 min. I had started my stop watch right when we took off, and when I got out of the lake I glanced at it and it was just a little over 9 minutes! I was pretty sure I was the first pink band out of the water.




Now I had the crazy, long incline up to the transition area where my ankle timer would note my time, so the long run to that point was also included in my swim portion. As I ran through the sand up to the path, suddenly I saw my husband and girls, it was such a boost and I gave them a big smile and wave.



I started hoofing it up to the transition area in bare feet, which must have taken me 2 minutes, because my official swim time was...

swim portion. 11 min. 13 sec.
AND, turns out that was 2nd in my age group!! Very proud.

I run into the transition area and am disoriented for a second, but I remembered that my rack was under the 2nd light post, so I ran for it. Dipped my feet in the bucket of water I had set out to get the sand and gravel off, slipped on my socks, tied up my shoes, clicked my helmet into place, unracked my bike, and started running to the bike start point (you are not allowed to ride in the transition area). That transition took me...

swim to bike transition: 2 min. 6 sec. I think I could improve on that.

Out of the transition I hopped on my bike and away I went. I was feeling good at this point. A little out of breath from the swim and run to the transition area, but nothing terrible, more adrenaline than anything. I felt confident I could conquer this bike ride, though I knew it would not be easy after seeing the course the night before.

The bike was 12 miles and the first 6 felt harder than the last 6 miles to me. The hills were really killer and people were starting to get off and walk up them. I was surprised! I was so thankful that Holly and I had spent so much time biking hills the last couple months. When we got to the 6 mile point and turned around to come back I was pushing it and there were a couple pink band ladies that kept changing positions with me. I knew my swim was strong, so I was thinking, hey, I am actually in the top of the pink group right now! On my way back on the second 6, H calls out to me from across the road on her first 6. She is a rockstar biker and I told myself to see how much further I could get before she passed me. Not too long after passing H, I pass Maverick. I was so proud of her! She was nervous about how she would do on the swim, but she obviously had not done too shabby to be that close behind H.

My self talk on the way back to transition was mostly telling myself that I knew I could do this, it was no different than a typical bike workout with H, and I was totally prepared for it, so do it! Get up that hill! On the way down one long steep hill, I was surprised to see that nearly everyone at that point on their way up it was walking it! I wanted to yell, get on your bikes and ride, people! But they were really hard hills.

By the time there is about 1.5 miles left, I am really breathing heavy. I had drank water from my bottle about four times trying to stay hydrated. But I was sweating profusely and the sun was hot and the humidity was bigtime.

I ride up to the transition and dismount, anticipating that my legs would feel heavy and jello-y for a minute or two, as H and I had done bricks where we biked and then ran, so I knew what to expect. But it turns out I really didn't know what to expect.











12 mile bike time: 47 minutes, 31 seconds

I leaned heavily on my bike as I sort of limped/ran back to the rack. I was really breathing heavy, and although I had planned to drink some water at that point, I forgot. I quickly took off my helmet, clipped on my number belt, put on my visor and away I went. Husband and the girls were there snapping pics, but I was in such a zone that I didn't really wave and smile or anything. I ran to the run start. That was a very fast transition...

bike to run transition: 56 seconds.

I run through the run start and immediately I am thinking, are you kidding me? This is a little 3.1 miles, normally an easy run for me, and I felt like death! I ran really slow trying to shake off the heavy leg feeling from being on the bike and trying desperately to get my breathing under control.

I kept telling myself, the first mile is always the hardest, once you get past it you will be in your groove. Not too far into the run I see boxes of bottled water set out. I quick grab one and twist it open while running and take a couple quick gulps and pour it on my head, chest and back, and then throw it in the grass, knowing that I am not even capable of handling the extra weight of a water bottle at the moment. I wasn't the only one, as many half drank bottle were on the ground. Turns out, to my and many others surprise and dismay, this was the only water offered on the entire run route, and I heard that the bottled water did not last very long either and many later runners got no water. Not good. At this point it was blazing hot, and so humid, and we had already swam 1/4 mile and biked 12 miles of hills.

After the first mile, I did briefly think I was getting my breathing under control. I was having a hard time figuring out where my breakdown was happening. Was it physically with my legs, or was it cardiovascularly with my breathing? Probably both! I was majorly self-talking myself through it. At the 1.5 mile mark where we turned around and headed back I seriously thought about walking a bit. I was getting chills and goose bumps and feeling a little out of it in my head, so I knew I was getting a little dehydrated. I was dripping wet from sweat. I kept telling myself to keep running, this is no different than a typical run workout, just keep running. I gasped and grunted a bit, told one guy alongside me that I felt like walking, just to give him an opportunity to pump me up. He did not disappoint, he said, no, you've got this! Don't stop running!

I didn't stop running. At some point I started channelling the Biggest Loser contestants. I saw Daris running that marathon in 4 hours, and Michael losing 250 lbs and enduring the killer "last chance" workouts. I kept saying to myself, if they can do that, you can do this! Do it!

Again, I thought of walking, but was afraid if I did, I wouldn't be able to start running again. I felt delirious in the mind. I could not believe how hard this run was. It was the worst run of my life. I told myself that this clinched it, I would never do a triathlon again in my life. I also wondered what in the he!! I had been thinking when I signed up for the 10 mile run in Stillwater, MN at the end of July. Clearly I am not a runner! I cannot do this!

I kept running.

I thought around the bend it was the end and I kept visualizing the finish line. I got around the bend, and NO, it was still further! I felt like crying. At that point I started praying, because I really thought I might pass out, and I wanted to get my ankle chip across that finish line to record my time before it happened, because I felt I had done well in the swim and bike, and I didn't want to crash and burn in this stupid run, which I never anticipated would be a problem. I prayed, Lord, please, please, let me cross that finish line before I pass out. Please get me there!

There was a pink band lady that seemed to have been stalking me a bit towards the end. She'd fall back and fast walk a bit, then power up and pass me, then fall back, then power up and pass. She was really keeping close to me right at the end and I thought, she is going to try and blow by me at the last second! I just kept running. In the end I did cross before her. Hah!








Anyway. There was the finish line!!! My body was on total auto-pilot at this point as I sprinted to the finish. I couldn't believe I made it! As soon as I crossed someone said, hand me your ankle timer. I looked down at my ankle and looked at them like they had spoken a foreign language. Luckily a more seasoned worker swooped in and said, here let me get it off for you, I know its hard to bend over right when you finish.

I was finished! I was a triathlete!
3.1 mile run time: 32 minutes, 5 seconds

I stumble forward and someone hangs a medal around my neck. All I can think about is sitting down and guzzling water. Suddenly H is there hugging and congratulating me and I see husband and I motion with my hand to my mouth that I need water.

I see a table with cups of water and I start grabbing them and guzzling and pouring them over me. I am hanging over the table as people are reaching over me. I keep guzzling and pouring over myself. I am out of my mind at this point and can't remember how I got over to a curb. I kept saying I needed shade and to sit down. I say I don't feel right and can't get a grip on my breathing. I sit down and lay back and immediately my husband and another guy are pulling me back up. They won't let me sit! I have to stand until I can prove that I am not about to die, then I can sit down.




Turns out, the guy helping me did the race last year and when he finished he blew his heart and ended up with a pace maker!! So he is hovering over me, making me eat this nasty gel, and drink gatorade which I hate, and guzzle water. I cannot tell whether I am going to pass out or throw up. I just wanted to sit down! Somewhere along the line, Maverick finishes and finds us. I am so bummed I was too out of it to see her finish. I was so proud of how well she did!

We go under the covered pavilion and I sit on the concrete. Then I lay back, but then I get afraid that I will get dizzy and pass out, so I sit back up. Sweat is pouring out of every orrifice of my body. I just cannot get it together. I am wanting to find out my standing in my age group, because I think I did pretty good. I keep telling myself that the reason I feel so horrible is, number one I am sick, and number two I left nothing on the table. I maxed out every event and did the very, very best I could have hoped to do. So feeling like death is worth it.




After about 30-40 minutes we get up to start walking over to gather our stuff from transition, but I am still leaning on my husband and feeling dizzy and out of it. We see two ambulances and 5 emt's standing outside of them in the parking lot. I say to my husband, you know, since they are there, maybe I could just get a little oxygen, because I should be feeling more normal by now after this long.

So we walk up to them and I tell them I am just not feeling right. My voice, of course, is gone, and I am producing horrid sounding coughing fits. I tell them I've been sick all week, I'm shaky and my skin is all goose-bumpy and chilled, but I am sweating profusely still after 30 minutes. They get me in the back of the ambulance and start putting sticky things all over my chest, a bp cuff, and a finger thingy. I get a nose canula of oxygen, then I get a finger stick and they decide to give me a bag of fluid. He misses on the first iv needle attempt, but gets it on the 2nd try. So I get oxygen and a bag of fluid and it perks me up and my personality starts coming back, at which time Maverick thinks it would be funny to photograph my dramatic ending. She told me I'd be glad to have it documented later.






OFFICIAL TIME TO COMPLETE MY FIRST TRIATHLON 1/4 mile swim, 12 mile bike, 5k run:
1 hour, 33 minutes, 49 seconds.

During my time in the ambulance, H finds out she came in 3rd place in her age group and gets to stand on the medal podium to receive her 3rd place medal. I am so bummed I missed that moment for her. I am crazy proud of her...she completely deserved it!

I am sufficiently recovered and tell them to get me all unhooked because I am outta there! I sign my refusal to transport to hospital waver, hop out and we get our stuff and head back to the hotel for a quick shower, a drive through grilled chicken sandwich and water, and home.

I was so glad to be home! Maverick and I flung ourselves on my bed and stayed there for over an hour, while wearing our medals around our necks. The standings were already online, and I learn with delight that out of 96 women in our 35-39 yr old age group, I came in 19th!!! I also learned that out of the 856 participants that day, I came in 309th!! I was very proud.

A day later, my voice is still gone, I am still coughing incessantly and now have a sore throat again, and I have knots around my shoulders from my power swim in the lake.

But...

I am competitive. I am tenacious. I am persevering. I am not a quitter. I have high expectations of myself.

I am a triathlete.




swim. bike. run.

Official Standings for Goose's First Triathlon: 1/4 mi swim, 12 mi bike, 3.1 mi run
overall: 1:33:49
swim: 11:13
s/b trans: 2:06
bike: 47:31
b/r trans: 0:56
run: 32:05