There is always a first time for everything they say.... Well, for the first time I went to a race out of town and after arriving realized that I had forgotten some very important equipment. Shocked is an understatement.
I rode with Jennifer to Meridian. The night before I had sat my bike out on the carport by the door so I would not wake Gary at 4am moving all my stuff around in the house. I was so concerned about leaving my swim stuff that I didn't even think about my bike bag!! I've never done that. If I had drove myself, I would have remembered my bag because I would have moved it to put my bike rack on my car. LOL
I was literally rolling my bike into transition and it hit be that I didn't grab my bike bag that had my bike shoes and my bike helmet in it. I just stood there. I couldn't believe it! I had been nervous on the ride and told Jennifer that my stomach was in knots just thinking about the race. Sunfish is not easy even if it is only a sprint TRI. It has some massive hills on the bike route and the run is always so hot. The lake water usually feels like 100 degrees also. So I was not looking forward to the race itself, but knew I needed the open water practice along with hills on the bike.
We asked around and the race director even had the announcer announce several times asking if anyone had an extra pair of shoes. The race director had a helmet but not shoes. I have clip in peddles so it's not as simple as just wearing your tennis shoes you run in to ride the bike. If the course had not been so hilly, I probably would have attempted to just ride with my running shoes. However I knew I would have a very hard time on those hills and if my foot slipped off the little round clip and I hurt myself that Chattanooga would be out. With my foot not being 100% yet and the race director advising me not to ride without the proper bike shoes, I decided that was best. And then working about telling my coach what happen. I didn't want to disappoint her. She was so looking forward to seeing how I did in the race.
So I just did the swim and then I ran while everyone else was going out on their bikes. The swim was ok. Water was so hot. I was burning up by the time I got back to the shore and I didn't even swim hard. I tried to focus on good deep breaths and remaining calm when others swam real close to me and when I'd see feet kicking. Many times I had to stop almost and try to move over because I'd be up on someone's feet kicking. I had a nightmare the night before about getting kick in the face during the swim. The swim part of a TRI is just not the fun part to me. :>).
So it's 11 weeks to Chattanooga and I'm starting to feel very nervous again. I'm worried about this dang foot. I go back to the doctor on the 25th for a recheck. I'll be so glad when I can say I can run without any pain!!! I was running so dang good before the PF decided to take up house in my right foot! I'm also concerned about the swim. I still can't imagine doing 4,400 yards! My coach keeps reassuring me that I can do it. So far I've swam 3,600 yards at the pool with no problem. It's that open water that gets me every time. I know I swam Augusta with no problems for the half ironman. I'm praying every day that will be the case for Chattanooga come September. I have an Oly distance next month in Georgia. I'm trying to get in all the open water practice that I can before September. :>).
As the saying goes.... #keeppushing #don'tstop #won'tquit #onedayatatime #focus #keepthefaith #trainhard #trainingpaysoff #visualizethefinish #allheart
So Sunfish race was a FAIL.... In life we having many failures.... it's what we decide to do with them that determines the real outcome in my opinion. So I'm getting that race check list back out and laminating it! I'll have it real handy next time.
Happy training to you! Next week I have a full load. Going to be exhausting....but it won't stop me. :>).
The only picture I got..... Jennifer & Amanda coming in to the finish. Amanda had a PR. I'm so proud of her. She's training for her first half ironman. Jennifer will be going Georgia with me for the Oly. Looking forward to a girls weekend with her and Krista. :>)
Well... until next time.... keep moving!
D
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