My Tri Report

Sorry this is late I just didn't have a chance until now.

Two hours, Nine Minutes and 15 seconds. Oh yeah ! Wahoo!

I loved the swim, endured the bike and suffered through the run but loved the experince after crossing the finish line! Thanks to everyone for the huge amount of support over the last year.

So Race day morning we got up around 6:00 and I had a champions breakfast of 4 peices of toast and jam and a couple cups of coffee (to get things moving in the right direction). Then after checking my gear and loading both sets into the car we set out to the park. I was very excited and so we met Kathy and Jason in the parking lot and they appeared as their usual calm selves. Me I was flinching and twitching with nervous energy but did manage to put my run transition stuff in the right location 148. I some how drew the same number I had when I did the Chum Run earlier this year. Must be fate and a good omen.
We placed our gear met up with Molly and Sarah and all pilled into the Sarah shuttle heading for the Goss Lake transition area. We witnessed Sarah bs her way past the sherriff's officer proving that if you "act like you should be here, most likely you will get in.". Really what is proves if you have a bus people let you go anywhere. In fact they ask you "what's going on".
Back to the race, at the transition area there are a lot of things to work do. I had the bike checked by the helpful volunteers from Half Link Bike shop our great local bike shop. I was nervous they were going to say "oh this part right here needs to be fixed I wouldn't ride it". That was just one of my neurotic little compulsive freak out fears. In fact I had several of those already by this time. I do that a little when I really want something I get a fear that something will go wrong and so I focus on some stupid thing. On my wedding day I was worried because this lady was putting reserved on the parking spaces for our reception and I started to yell at her when she said. "Nick! this is for your wedding I am a friend of Amanda's mom." SO what happens is I forget the marriage license which is what I was supposed to be doing in the first place. You probabaly thinking poor poor Amanda she has had to endure this trait of mine for 11+ years now. We have been together longer but while we were dating I kept that one out of her view.
Anyway enough about that this day I was excited and so I hung my bike and they wrote my number on my leg and my arm. I thought out loud "Why on both do you expect I am going to come out of the swim without one or the other?" They also ask you your age and write that on the other calf, "hmmm is this to begin medical triage in case I am out of it? I had to stop those thoughts and spend some time visualizing my success. So we handed in our bags and I had a minor freak out while the volunteer walked all over the area before setting mine down.
Okay pre race meeting is led by this guy using a mega phone but still managing to not talk loud enough for people 30 feet away to hear. I really don't understand people not speaking loudly at these type of events. I want to smack these people upside the head and say "Whada ya thinking". Just my internal agro going off again and so instead I walk closer so I can hear.  It feels very exciting to be in the cowd of wet suits and knowing that I am about to be a part of this. Hmph heavy sigh try to relax. Okay time to warm up in the water. Yeah I don't have to hold my pee any longer I can go warm up from the inside of my wet suit. In the water making bubbles, "sorry fishies" but hey you all pee in this lake too. Do fish pee? store that question for later.
So in the water and face down I start to get myself adjusted to the water temperature. I usually need a couple minutes of breathing to get used to it and breath normally. I am used to relaxing in the water so it helps my nerves to get in and take some leisurly strokes. I look up at the beach and the 250 people on the small public beach make the shore look packed. Very cool to be here actually doing what I have spent so many hours training for. "Everyone not in the first wave out of the water" I make my way to the start staying to the rear and outside so I don't have people bumping me. "Start! Go." I here someone say and I wathc the pack begin to swim away. Sort of a none glorious beginning I think. My first few strokes are relaxed but the first three times I try to get breath I swallow water. "I am going to drink half the lake at this rate". I calmly focus on my form and then site and start to find a treeline or point I can sight on. "I can see the bouy so I decide to use the bouy". Novel concept and I am swimming the first leg remembering what Brian told me. "Just use the first leg as a warm up". I feel good and my swim is relaxed and my sighting good. Passing the first bouy I spend a little time worrying about how close I might be and if there are other swimmers around me. I regain my focus by thinking again about my form and swimming from the belly button not pulling with the arms. Soon I am at the second bouy and I remember to stay relaxed and stay long keep my stroke length long and my breathing easy. Heading into shore I feel in rythm and I think I passed a guy. I think I only passed two or three other swimmers but I think how fun this is to be actually in the race. I swim until my hand touches the ground and then stand up. Climbing out of the water I shout Ha HA as I run up the hill to my first transition.
The transition is a jarbled mess, wet suit off shorts on, shirt on, ear plugs out, goggles off, one glove on, shoes on, swim cap off, swim stuff in the bag, helment on and clipped, water pack on, last glove on, towel in the bag and hand it to the volunteer lady.  I somehow manage to get everything on and that is a surprise, I grab my bike and run to the transition area. Hoping on the bike I pedal out of the lake and up the first hill to Traverse.
At this point it is a mental down turn because I know my bike is not good and I expect to get passed by almost everyone I know in the next hour. I ride up Lone lake really not getting my breath back yet but in my head hearing footsteps. I ride as hard as I can but still get passed by many. I make it to the Saratoga hill before seeing anyone I know, charge into the hill and then climb climb climb. I love the couple with the Cow Bell on the side of the road. Being the polite athlete I am I find myself saying thank you to anyone cheering on the side of the road. Maybe that shows I am a rookie but I feel guilty to go bye without saying anything.
Oh my this hill is a beast. Struggling up it finally I head down the other side eating my blocks on the way. I push knowing that I am not using very good form and I need to relax my back or I will be hurting something feirce soon.
I keep getting passed by ones and two's and I think I am probably the last guy to reach the Church. Still hearing the wheels of the ladies behind me I begin the gruelling part (part one) of the ride which is the slow climb out of Langley on Brooks hill road. I count leg stokes to try to not think and just ride. 100 on the left leg then 100 on the right, 100 more and then I am coming to the sign makers sign. At this point I try to shift up as the downhill part comes but I fight with my chain and derailer for while before I can get it up into the high sprocket on the front. Going down the hill I get to 47 KM/hour which is not my fastest but as I turn I see the sherriff and remember not to cross the yellow line on Andreason. Streching my back on the bike I pass the Arndts and get a shout of encouragement. I turn the corner for the next gruelling portion (part two) which is the long climb up Lone lake road. "I am sure I will get passed here on this road" I tell myself trying to prepare for it. "This is my race and I need to relax my back and use my legs more or else I will be wasted for the run". I peddal on and Jason passes me before the Putney woods parking lot. Next Kristen passes bye looking fresh and happy. "I am glad to see them and I doubt I look that way at the moment". I get passed by more men and a couple more women on the rest of the climb. Racing down towards Saratoga I try to get low and aerodynamic and rest my legs a little, I think I get up to 51 km/hour on this stretch. I can no longer see Jason or Kristen when I turn onto Saratoga and prepare for the 2nd dance with the beast. "I need more COW BELL!" Sure enough the couple rings it again as I slowly climb this hill. I see a girl walking her bike up and I resist my brain saying "Hey that looks like a better way you dumb ass".
Climb climb climb I am barely moving and Aaron whips on bye on the way up. Finally I reach the peak very winded and very spent. I watch him race away looking energetic but I glide down the hill grateful to have made it this far without getting passed by Amanda and Kathy and Steph and Molly and Sarah members of S.W.I.M. (South Whidbey Iron Momma's). I am also very glad the crux of the Bike ride is over. I pedal on and this time see the fallen rider when I pass the church. Through town I get passed by another 4-6 people and I am very tire turning up Maxwelton. It is crazy how good some of these people are. I can see the lead runners on the run course on the other side of the street. Man that is fast to be over two miles into the run by now.
Riding the last part of the bike is mentally hard because I am very tired and yet I know I sneak little rest periods in while on the bike. The run doesn't allow for that. I use Molly's advice of standing up riding the last half mile so my legs will transition better to the run. Some guy asked me if I had mechanical problems as he road by. I mumbled "No I just like it this way" as he races ahead. Pulling into the park I unclip and see family cheering me on. I wave to the boys as I race my bike to my spot. Switching shorts and my shirt and my shoes I keeping moving.
The HILL is here! Oh very tired I take baby steps all the way up past the skate park barely able to keep moving but afraid if I stop I will not be able to start again. Up into the woods I pass a guy who passed me on the bike but now is walking up the hill, I think in my head "So long buddy from the looks of you this is going to be the last pass." That was the only person I think I passed on the entire run.
Out of the park and onto Langley road I am struggling now trying to think about breathing and form but tired all over. Molly passed me here and she looked really fresh and chatty as she quickly left me behind. I know I am not running fast and I no longer care, I wish I had left my water pack back at the transition area cause there is water on the course and I don't need tjhe weight. As the road turns into chip seal Val passes me looking way to full of energy and soon she is gone as well. I can only think of "when is this going to be over?" at this point. I ran this course a week ago and it wasn't his hard. I tell myself I did Sun Mountain I can do this! Even on the nice sloopping downhill it si a challenge to keep my feet moving keep falling forward. Turning onto Maxwelton I try to grab a cup of water from one of the volunteers to pour on my head but I fumble it and almost fall over. This last part of the race is hell, I just want to stop. "I am afraid if I stop to walk here I would not ever be able to run afgain so I keep going. I also expect the other S.W.I.M. ladies are closing in on me now and if the y catch me walking they will not let me forget it all year. As I come closer to the littel incline I am not sure Ican make it up there so I try counting steps to occupy my mind. I understand now the thought Amanda has mentioned she gets in the middle of a Triathlon of "Why am I doing this?"I use Candice's trick of telling myself how great my left leg feels. "Feel how strong that left leg is!" I wish I could be done now. I tell myself once again I did Sun Mountain I can do this! Using as much of my arms as I can I slowly climb the last rise and now it is nothing but flat, a couple more people pass me here. People direct me into the park saying something and now I am too tired to say thanks. Turning into the park I am so tired I am not even excited I am just trudging onward hoping this ends soon.
As I get to the parking lot I think "last chance to catch Amanda's time from last year". I lean forward more and really give it everything I have for the last 100 yards. Smiling that it is over I cross the line at 2:09

Whew, hmmmmmm, I'm happily exhuasted.

I just did my Personel Best :)

I did what I said I would do a year ago, I kept my word.



Now where are my doughnuts .......

Itching to go.

Well here is a run down from the last week of training.

Tuesday 50 minutes on the bike and 10 minutes on the run,
Wednesday the L.U.S.T. (Langley Ultra Short Triathlon) mock triathlon (a one third mile swim, 10 mile bike, 1.2 mile run) great experience to practice the excitment of a group of swimmers and the strangeness of transitions.
Thursday Rest ? I can't remember now.
Friday Rest ?  We went car shopping that night.
Saturday 30 minutes swim in Goss Lake.
Sunday Bike /Run Brick (20 mile bike and a 4 mile run)
Monday 30 minute swim in Goss Lake.

Tuesday will be a rest day.
Wednesday I think I will do a short 20 minutes swim in the pool. Then soak in the hot tub a bit.
Thursday rest Maybe practice tranistions at home (bike to run)
Friday rest
Saturday - Triathlon Day. The Big Kahuna

I am getting more excited and more nervous. Am I ready? Yes I am!
All I have now to do is make my checklist for the day of the race.

The Swim list
1. Wetsuit
2. Goggles
3. Ear Plugs
4. Glide
5. Swim Cap
6. Small Towel

The Bike list
1. Bike
2. Shoes
3. Jersey
4. Bike shorts
4. Load 2 opened packs of shot blocks in the Jersey
5. Camelback filled with Nuun
6. Gloves
7. Helment
8. Sunglasses

The Run list
1. Shoes
2. Small white cotton running socks
3. White and red running Shirt with number attached

Mental walk through ( I know it is probably boring to read but you have come with me this far so just keep reading) It's all about me remember.

Monday today - Call ahead and confirm I am registered. Oh I would hate to get there and have them say "Who are you? We don't have you listed." I did that this morning and I am listed.
Also printed packet on Triathlon information so I know the rules.
Question? It says Obey all traffic laws? What if I am going supper fast and it is faster than the speed limit?

Friday pick up race packet between 2 and 6 pm. Attach number to the bike and to Race day shirt for running. Load box of all race gear so I am not looking for anything in the morning.
Saturday
Wake up at 6:00 am
Eat some toast with Jam and some juice & drink Coffee. Critical race day Poop to stay light weight and not carry any excess luggage.
6:45 Verify check list items in the box and box in the car. Load the bikes and then leave the house.

7:00 Arrive at park
Place the running stuff at the park leaving by my number Nike Free shoes, white cotton socks, white and red shirt with number attached.
Spy out where your transition spot is from the dismount location, place stuff far enough from the fence that so you can lean the bike up.

Meet Sarah and the bus with the rest of the gear and the bikes.
7:30 leave the park.
7:45 arrive at the lake with swim and bike equipment.
8:00 Check in and rack our bikes and load bike gear in the bag they provide. 
Locate where they place the bag and spy out waht it looks like from the waters edge.

Get swim cap and attach ankle chip provided by the race cordinators
8:30 Required Pre Race meeting.

9:00 am Race starts in the water 4 waves spaced 4 minutes apart. (Not sure if they will have an old slow man's division).

Wahooo.

So that was Monday

TOnight is Friday and I can't possibly sit still enough to write.

I am soooo excited. Oh yeah had two Odwalla drinks today and gave my self the runs as a nice good luck buddy pre race warm up. "1 Rule" Don't do anything new on race day. Rule 1.5 "Or the day before"

Nick