I realize that I haven’t been keeping up very well with this blog lately, so I’m going to play a little catch-up by writing about last week’s Triathlon. I still probably won’t be writing regularly (I’ve got too many distractions at the moment), but I’ll eventually get around to posting the big stuff. I’m also trying to work on some more poetry, so hopefully I’ll have something worthwhile to share from that crop.
May 1st is Labor Day here in Poland and the school was closed that day, so a few of the teachers decided to organize a triathlon. I’m glad they did it! It was fun and challenging, and the first time I’d ever done anything like that.
We started bright and early at the school pool. We had enough people for 2 heats, but somehow I ended up with my own lane. I hadn’t put much training into swimming, so it was by far my weakest event. Up until then, I was swimming only twice per week, and then only practicing the breast stroke. The first day I did a full 500 meters without stopping was, of course, the day before the triathlon. But I managed to putter along at a decent pace, and was out of the water after about 12-13 minutes. I was told a swim cap and a "snugger" swimsuit would help (I was wearing my big baggy surfer-style swimshorts). But I didn’t want to change anything that close to the event.
After that, I took the longest in transition to the bike. I think this is in part because I planned to slough my stuff around with me, so I packaged it very neatly into my bike bag, which I ended up leaving for the voluneers to bring along. I also got a bit stuck putting on my bike shirt (it was bunched under my armpits – I imagine it would have been very humorous to watch me dancing around the locker room)
Knowing I am a slow swimmer, and that I was behind, I shot off the mark on my bike. My newly purchased bike computer showed me my speed, and I was quickly up to 20km/h. But I hit a snag at the back entrance when I realized I wasn’t sure which direction to go from there to get to the trail. Luckily the security guard there pointed me in the right direction. After I passed through the sand, I was able to get back in my rythm and was able to get myself up to around 30km/h (according to the computer – may be configured wrong).
Not long after that, I came to the only street crossing on the trail. Now, a sequence of events was about to domino into sending me down the wrong path… So I’ll start with the background. Before leaving the school, I mentally ran through the course. It was pretty much identical to how I get to and from the school on a regular basis. I usually cross the road at the crosswalk, and was visualizing myself hitting the button, waiting, and crossing there. However, when I arrived at the intersection, one of the volunteers was there to monitor traffic and help us cross quickly. When he waved me across, my brain malfunctioned and figured for some reason that he was waving me along the course, which I had wrong. So I shot across the street and kept going when I should have turned. Part of the reason I thought this was part of the course, was that I had ridden it the week before. At the end of the road, I realized I’d gone the wrong way, but rather than turn around, I knew the trail reconnected to the main trail farther up, and I figured it would save me time to keep going, rather than turn around. What I didn’t figure on, was that the trail angled away, and that the trail was rough dirt and sand, whereas the trail I was supposed to be on was paved. So I ended up taking much longer both in time and distance, and when I finally reconnected, I was a bit disheartened.
My speed dropped down around18-20km/h as I watched everyone pass by me. I was really mad at myself, and bummed. Not so much because I got slowed down, as that my time didn’t apply to the course, so I won’t really know how good I did. But shortly after I rounded the halfway point, I firmed up and took control again. I thought about my taekwondo training and our emphasis on indomitable spirit. I’d let myself slip, but just knowing that re-lit my fire.
So I pounded out the last stretch and rolled into the last leg – the running. One of the other triathletes, Larry, was finishing his run as I biked in, so there was a bit of confusion as to where I should go. But I got in and off the bike no problem. Then it was time to run. I was all ready to go, so I just had to hop off and get moving, but my legs had another plan. They were stiff and I felt like the tin-man before he got oiled! After a few steps, though, I started to loosen up, and about half-way it actually felt really nice. The problem came shortly after, when the combination of allergies and cold air made it tough to breathe, so I got a bad stitch in my side. I didn’t want to walk, but I eventually gave in and walked, stretching and breathing. I tried to run again after a bit, but it came right back. I kept walking, but was cringing at each breath. After a while of deep breathing, I was feeling good again, and finished the course at a good jog.
The feeling at the finish line was awesome. Getting cheared on and finishing something so challenging was a great feeling. And the barbecue afterwards was a good feeling too! The next few days I expected to be really sore, but surprisingly wasn’t. In fact, I felt like doing it again! That’s a testament to the training I’d been doing, and next year I plan to be even more prepared and really reduce my time. Mostly by going the right direction, but also from training, too.
