After eight long months of intense training, the event is almost here. I am officially in taper mode, though in all honesty, I started tapering last week after I finished the HyVee 5150 race. While I feel ready, I am still a little apprehensive. HyVee was my longest tri yet, and while the swim was almost as long as the half IM, the bike and run were a little less than half the distance. What it will feel like to put all three together is still an unknown. I only hope the cooler weather we've been experiencing here prevails in OKC next weekend, as I have already gotten pleasantly acclimated to the milder weather.
The HyVee 5150 (5150 being the total number of meters in the race: 1,500 swim, 40,000 bike and 10,000 run) was a great experience. Bea and I both signed up for the race; me, because I wanted the experience, especially in the swim, of the longer distance and Bea, because when she attempted the race several years ago, the race prevailed.
We were told at our pre-race meetings the day before that there was basically no likelihood of the water temperature being wetsuit legal. It had measured at 84 degrees and the possibility of it dropping six degrees was unlikely. I was okay with that; I'd practiced enough in open water that I wasn't worried about it. I just figured I'd be slower than normal. When we were preparing our stuff for the race, Bea asked me if I was going to go ahead and take my wetsuit. My first inclination was no, but then decided to throw it in at the last minute.
Miracle upon miracle, as we were walking to transition the morning of the race, the announcer was saying that the water temp had dropped to 74 making it legal to use a wetsuit. Yay!
The elite age groupers started the race first, at 6:45, so it was quite a wait before Bea's and then my heats took off. As I stood waiting for my turn to get into the water, I really wasn't nervous. I started out fine, however, as I got about 300 meters out, I noticed that I didn't feel that I could take a full breath and that my heart rate was starting to go up. I talked to myself quite a bit: slow down, take slow deep breaths... those techniques were not helping. So, I turned over on my back trying to will my heart rate down.
When I turned back on my stomach, a couple on a Sea-Doo asked if I was okay. I thought a moment and then waved them over. They threw me a floaty and I still tried to calm my heart rate. Since I knew that I had plenty of open water practice, I knew there was something else causing the issue. My wetsuit felt too constrictive. I unzipped it, tossed the floaty back to the couple and started out again.
I still couldn't catch my breath. As I treaded water, so many thoughts were going through my head. Was I going to have to get out? I looked around me and thought, there's still a lot of course ahead of me. But, all the swag I got...I won't be able to use it if I bail again! A girl in a kayak was nearby, so I waved her over. Holding on to the nose of the kayak, I pulled the top of my wetsuit off and let it fall to my waist. The couple on the Sea-Doo again asked me if I was ready to get out. It was obvious that they wanted me to either move on or get out. After a little more assistance from various floatation devices, I finally felt that I had caught my breath enough to go on.
It spent the next several hundred meters praying to God and the next several after that thanking Him as I was able to get back into my rhythm and finish the swim. My heart rate went back to normal and I started enjoying the swim again. I even seemed to pass several people. Getting out of the water was a little weird as my legs didn't really want to hold me up. (Note to self: when Liz mentioned kicking the last hundred yards or so, really kick!).
The rest of the race was uneventful. It was the most gorgeous day, sunny and in the low 70's by the time I finished. I finally caught Bea at mile 3 of the run and we finished the race together. I'm glad I learned that I'm too fat for my wetsuit at that race and not at Redman, so many valuable lessons were learned indeed.
So, now Redman is sneaking up. I am sort of in a taper slump. I want to get it over with, and don't feel compelled to do the rest of the workouts (I am making myself do most of them). I am tired of the all-consuming nature this training has taken in my life. Triathlon is a very self-absorbing occupation, taking up most of my free time. But, on the other hand, I am so grateful that I have been able to do this training. I feel strong and in shape. I'm nearing the home stretch on this journey and it's been quite a ride.
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