The start of the race, Ocala Hits Triathlon, was delayed to wait for the sun to rise; not sure if they wanted the sun for the light it would provide or for the potential heat it would provide. Waiting on the shore that morning, the air was 52 degrees and the water was 64, I noted that doing a triathlon in March may be too early in the season...even in Florida. This was the first race of the season and the kick off for my official "Road to Augusta 70.3." I was, as usual, nervous. Super nervous in fact. I always doubt myself when it comes to the swim. And even with a few open water swims for the season (
at Lucky's Lake), I was still nervous about the 750 meter swim. Most sprints are only 400 meters.
Pre-race nerves setting in. Trying not to freeze, cry, or quit.
Coach Tammy giving me a prep talk. Still dying inside here.
And we are off! Yes, I am one of the people still running at that point. I am always confused to when the right time to start swimming is, when the water is barely waist deep. But eventually I had to start swimming. And that I did. When it comes to open water, I am hesitant to just "swim." I know that sounds strange, but I constantly check my watch, stop to breath "extra," and worry about people around me. So my goal was to worry little about time and focus on only looking up to site. I did stop a few times, but my swim felt good...
But when I saw my time, I was mad...I was really mad. This is me stomping and pouting my way out of the water cause I was 3 minutes slower than what I wanted. For a brief moment, I was questioning why I even wanted to do a tri. I spend several hours a week in the gym, I give up some social time, I give up sleep, I give up my weekends...for what? To get up at 4am on a Saturday, drive to another city, freeze my booty off, stand among people thought to be crazy by their friends, and swim a crappy time after all that hard work...EEERRRRRR.
But, I would at least finish. Let's be honest, the race shirt was pretty cool; and you can't wear it unless you finish. So get it together; run through transition, strip the wet suit, grab the helmet, and hop on the bike is exactly what I did. I wasn't much happier on the bike for the first mile or two. I was wet and cold and pissed...really pissed. But then, that anger turned into something glorious, strength. I reminded myself, that just because my swim was weak, didn't mean that my bike or run had to be weak; strong mind = strong legs. I repeated that mantra in my head over and over and over. All of a sudden, I was having fun again. Hauling butt out there and taking names. Before I knew it, I was back at transition and ready to rock the run.
The combination of wet feet and then the cool breeze created on the bike, made for an interesting run. I hadn't noticed on the bike, but once I hopped off, I realized my feet were ice blocks. And every s-i-n-g-l-e step HURT. Or maybe it burned. Either way, I didn't like it. But since my attitude had changed so dramatically, I didn't care. I just thought, "the faster I run, the faster my feet thaw." So I went hard and fast and tried to make up those 3 minutes from the water.
Doing work and pushing hard AKA huffing and puffing my way to the finish line.
What could have easily halted my training for triathlons turned into an amazing race with great lessons and hunger for more. I say all the time that there are completors and competors that show up to these races. I've always considered myself to be the completor. There for the race, but more importantly the experience. But this race help me to realize that even though I am not winning these things, I am winning against myself (I know corny...but true). And every time I wake up earlier, go further, push harder; I get stronger both mentally and phsically. That is winning in my book.
And by some strange happening, I place that day too. I took second place in my age group. Tammy totally rocked in the OLY taking second in her age group as well. Here is us celebrating the win for the day and the kick off to an amazing season ahead and the Road to Augusta 70.3.
