Race Day

I did it! Took me 4 hours to go through, but I finished the whole thing (winner was just under 2 hours).

The swim was a lot colder than I was expecting. My wetsuit didn't have arms and my arms were freezing and I could barely move them. The first couple minutes I was afraid of getting kicked by the million of people in the pack... then after that I was afraid I would just stop working. I had to go most of it with my lame backstroke (just kicking pretty much).

After getting out of the water, I had the wetsuit strippers only take off my shoulders... they usually do the whole thing, but I was afraid my little bathing suit underneath would come off. At this point, I had accomplished 2 goals: 1. not drowning in the swim 2. finish the swim.

I took my time getting on the bike and going. My next goal was to reach the aid station at the top of the mountain. It took me a very long time to get there. The trail was much rockier than I expected, and was often steep where I'd have to walk my bike (well... I was going slow enough that I needed to walk). There was also a nice section where a bunch of trees had fallen across the path (this was mentioned in the pre-race meeting)... and everyone had to carry their bike and climb over them. This wasn't as bad as I was expecting, was kinda nice to get off the bike a little. At some point after the aid station and the downed trees (burned down trees from the rodeo-chedeski fire a couple years ago), there was a nice long downhill-ish part on a dirt road. Mostly downhill until one nasty uphill (which we went down before)... and then back into transition. At this point.... 5 goals finished... added "don't crash on the bike", "get to the top aid station" and "finish the bike".

So I ride into the transition and have some last water, then try to start running. I made it just a little bit out of transition before I had to start walking. My next goal was to just make it past "The Eliminator"... which is this super steep hill about 3/4 miles from the start. Since I knew I'd be walking up that, I figured I might as well walk most of the way to it (seemed to make sense at the time). I might've jogged a little, but not much. I made it down the hill and back up the eliminator, and shortly after was the first aid station.

I was super thirsty, so I asked for 2 cups of Gatorade... this was a mistake, and I was sloshing around for quite a while because of it. I also got this stuff called "Gu"... which is well named energy goo. It didn't taste as bad as I expected (I turned it down on the bike), and it did seem to help me keep going. I only ate a little at a time because it stuck to my mouth like peanut butter. So, after stopping at the aid station, I started out just walking, and would jog a bit whenever I felt like it.

After a bit of this, for some reason I started counting my steps while running, and decided I would do bursts of jogging of 100 paces. This was a managable distance, and whenever I started a 100-pace jog, I finished it. I just kept doing this whenver I thought I could manage (but still walking a lot). I went through the 2-mile aid station, past the turn-around, back to the 2-mile station, past the 3 mile mark, and back to the 1-mile station (which was just before the 4 mile mark on the way back).

After the 4 mile mark, they had a nice "treat" for us.... they decided it was funny to divert us from the path and make everyone run through a bit of the lake. It was actually kinda nice to cool off a bit, but not so nice to run the last mile with an extra 5 pounds and soggy socks and shoes. I kept up the running 100 steps until close to the end... then I saved up a little bit because I wanted to run through the finish line. The announcer guy mocked my baggy shorts and my mud-and-water soaked socks, and then I passed through and got my little "finisher" medal... and a popsicle for some reason (which I later forgot about and let melt in the door handle of the car).

So overall, I had a good time. It was very hard, but fun to just see if I could keep going. I didn't hurt myself or drown, which is always a plus. I would do it again, but probably only if I could lose 20 pounds or so before next time (<200 pounds was my goal for this, but I didn't come close).

So now, my "training" is done. I'm going to start playing basketball, and hopefully soccer and softball if I can find a place to do so. I will probably ride the bike once in a while, and the same with swimming... but I can't stand running just to run.

5/27 - 6/2

Sun 5/27
- Swim 700 meters non-stop

Did this this morning. I was at 15 minutes after 500m, 18 minutes for 600m, and 20 minutes for 700m.

Mon 5/28
- Brick:
Bike :20
Run :10
w/ a few 20 sec accels in each

I had a good ride of 20 minutes.... some on the trail behind the house (then I went around on streets and up to the other end to avoid the part of the trail that always kills me). Rode for 20 minutes. Then I started out running... but again, could only go for 2 minutes before walking a couple. Then ran 1, and walked the rest.... If I manage to make it to the running portion of the race, I think I'll be in trouble (but just making it that far will be something...).

Tue 5/29
- Swim 800 meters non-stop

I kicked the pool's ass! Well... maybe not, but I had a good swim. I didn't have to do my lame backstroke until the 9th length, and I only did 5 backstroke lengths overall. It took me only 13 minutes to swim 500 meters... and 20 to do the full 800 (that's like I stole 100m from my Sunday time). Afterwards, I was pretty tired.... but I did feel like if I HAD TO hop on a bike *cough* Sunday *cough*... I could. And then I went to Village Inn for dinner.... and I got FREE PIE! Might not have been the best "training food"... but oh well.

Wed 5/30
- Run :15

Decided it would be good to just run without anything else first... to see what I could do. I went on the trail that keeps killing me on the bike. It's kinda rocky in spots, but I think that's good because I'm not sure what the race path will be like. I ran about 5 minutes at the start, and ended up running 13 out of 20 minutes, which I am happy with at this point. (well, should be a lot better, but is better than the last couple times).

Thu 5/31
- TBD

Well, I determined that what I needed most was rest. Didn't do any workout today.

Fri 6/1
- Off

Day off today as well.

Sat 6/2
- Brick:
Bike :20
Run :10
w/ accels in each

Going to try to check out the race course a little bit when I get there this afternoon.... we'll see.

5/20 - 5/26

Sun 5/20
- Swim #11
500m non-stop

Took me about 13 minutes. Did backstroke lengths here and there.

Mon 5/21
- Brick:
Bike :20
Run :25
w/ 6-8 x (1:00 accel - 1:00 easy)

Went to the gym for this again. Rode 20 minutes, but then only ran for 10. I'm still struggling with running.

Tue 5/22
- Swim #11
500m non-stop

Took around 14 minutes for 500m, but then I swam another 100... 17 minutes total.

Wed 5/23
- Combo:
Run :15
Bike :30

Didn't do this.... playing "chase Fox around" was too much...

Thu 5/24
- Bike 1:30 - 2:00

Same here... bad.

Fri 5/25
- Off

Sat 5/26
- Off