Ha! Running is hard and yet I keep finding myself doing it. I think it's because it's hard that I feel I need to keep working at it. 😲 I mean I even created a Train to Run program for new runners or those who want to get into it. It's not a punishment, it's a challenge. So I keep challenging myself with what I consider the hardest of the fitness disciplines that I do.
This past weekend I competed in and completed my second ever triathlon. TriAC in Atlantic City. A sprint triathlon; 400 m open water swim, 11 mile bike ride and 5k run. Leading up to the event I knew I was ready. I'd gotten over most of the nervousness of last year and knew somewhat what to expect. It wasn't all new. However there were new aspects to this race, different location, open water vs pool swim, much larger group as there was also a Olympic distance race at the same time, and open to both men and women.
Wait, let me back up a bit. After the Women's Philadelphia Triathlon last year I kept at my training throughout the year leading up to this one. I was already trying to get in one swim, bike/spin, run once a week. I was especially trying to make sure I got in running as I had, in a fit of excitement, signed up for the National Women's Half Marathon that took place May 5. OMG, a half marathon, what was I thinking. In an earlier post I described one of my training runs leading up to that race. I completed one more long training run before doomsday. Someone asked me if I was ready, my response was no, but I'll just do it. And that's exactly what I did. That half marathon was probably the hardest thing physically I've done to date, if there was something harder, I've probably blocked it out of my mind. It was certainly a challenge.
The day started with a light rain and stayed that way for what seemed like forever. I was actually feeling good. There is always an excitement around racing events and that always helps keep the mood positive even when you're wet, anticipating 3 hours of emotional and physical pain, and wished you had stayed in bed. I knew what I needed to do to get through this. The first half went pretty well. I was still running and thinking that I could run the whole thing, ha ha that's funny. Mile 8 was where things fell apart, that's where it went run/walk/run blah blah blah. I even took a pit stop. Mile 12 I was determined to run the last mile + to the finish, cause one doesn't walk across the finish line. Yay! It's over. Wonder Woman finished strong! Oh yes, I forgot to mention, as this was my first half marathon, and a woman themed one, I wore my WW shirt and rocked a WW tutu! Yes, I did!
With this momentous occasion over, I continued my triathlon training, well, sort of. I know I let my running slide. I wasn't getting it in. I figured the Train to Run program would help and with my student we completed the Lawyers Have Heart 5k, my time was fine for that. Then it slipped again. I had to get in a couple of brick trainings (biking/running) which I did, I think the first went ok, but the second wasn't great and many of my runs this summer were just awful, this wasn't helping. Race week I got in one bike ride and one run, no swim, why? I don't know. My run was actually good, I told myself if I can do that on triathlon day, I'd be fine.
TriAC: The day before race day I had driven up to Atlantic City, checked in and wandered all over to see the water, the swim in, bike out, bike in and run out points. Put the sticker on my bike, found my spot in transition and racked my bike. I attended the informational athlete meeting and then headed to my hotel. I was feeling confident about a good race the next morning.
Race morning was beautiful and I'd heard the water was 81 degrees, no need for a wetsuit, whahoo! Cause who really wants to try and peel that thing off, a bathing suit is hard enough. I got there early and made my way to transition and set up my stuff so it was all easily accessible based on what I needed when. The athlete next to me managed to create a little tension in setting up his area and proceeded to mess up mine. 😨 I just stayed there until he was done, fixed my spot and went to the start. The swim was set up where you place yourself according to the time it takes you to complete 400 meters. I was in the 10 min +. When the tri started the volunteers had five people at a time get in the water every 10 seconds, this was super helpful in that you were not getting swum over by lots of people. So I walked down the boat ramp and was in the water, tried to freestyle as I normally would in the pool, yeah that didn't work. Can't see anything in that lovely brown water, so my head kind of stayed up the whole time and I decided to freestyle and breast stroke as I had room to do that, unlike in the pool where we looked like a bunch of salmon swimming upstream. I hadn't done an open water swim before for a race, I didn't panic, but I did swim a lot faster than I normally do in the pool, by about 2 min! I just wanted to get out and be done. I wanted to get on the bike, my total comfort zone. Getting out of the water and up another boat ramp, I made my way to transition, got on my bike gear, grabbed my bike, ran it to where you get on, couldn't for the life of me get my foot to clip in my pedal, finally got it and I was off. The bike ride was 11 miles and took me just under the 40 min it usually does, but felt like it whizzed by! Oh crap! I knew what was next...the run. Dismounted the bike, ran back to transition, changed shoes, put on my hat and off I went. My legs hated this and me.
By now the sun was out and it was warm. Legs really have a hard time adjusting after a bike ride and with my swim having been so much faster, I was a little more spent than I should have been. But I knew I could do this and talked my way through it. Just keep running, keep your head down, you can do it, everyone is cheering, that's awesome, oh thank god, some shade. The run was along the AC boardwalk and as cool as it is to run on, there really isn't any shade except one building we ran around. I finally got to where the sprint turns around and heads back towards the finish line. Yes! I can see it, almost there, and finally I was done! Ultimately I had completed under my goal time. I would have liked to do a little faster, but I'm proud of setting the goal and meeting it. When I looked at my times my swim was faster than I'd expected, bike was spot on, run slower. So guess what I need to work on?? Yep, back to run training. I was already thinking about what I need to do as soon as the race was over.
This was tough, the half marathon was tougher, but these won't be my last races. I'm not keen to sign up for another half marathon right away, but I definitely see more triathlons in my future. Having goals like these keep you motivated to keep training. It's easy to get lazy when a race is over, to say, okay that's done, time to relax. Well, I relaxed for a couple of days then I was back at it. Guess what I did first...yep, a run. Running is still hard. With anything though, the more you do it, the easier it will become. At least that's what I keep telling myself. 😃 So my next goal will be to increase the speed and duration of my running because I want to set an even faster goal time next time!
Stay motivated and keep challenging yourself! That means sticking with those things that are hard.
I can do it, so I know you can do it.
Comment below what you keep sticking with even though its hard for you.
Lori
