Redman...Over

The race is done. The goal that consumed most of my life for the past nine months is done leaving me feeling somewhat bereft and rudderless. But, that is a different story...

I was fortunate in that while the temperature highs were a little warmer than I would have liked, the lake itself was calmer and the starting temps were not as chilly as the previous day. The swim course was a train wreck. Because of the low water levels of the lake, the course was modified from the original long rectangle shape to an inverted triangle. The orange buoys that were supposed to mark the course boundary had either drifted or blew off their designated resting places and were sitting randomly in the middle of the course. The buoys marking the corners (turning points) were...WHITE! Seriously? White? White buoys that were 1,000 yards away that turn invisible on a cloudy day? SERIOUSLY?

I had signed up to be in the last wave of swimmers, as it was designated the "Safefy Wave" and intended for those who wanted to not worry about being in the crush of all the faster swimmers. We were told by one of the organizers that there kayakers out on the course with noodles if we needed a break and that they would be following us in as the last swimmers were finishing.

The rifle went off (yes, really a rifle), and the swimmers started walking into the depths. Another distinction from the non-safety wave was that I don't think anyone was running! It had to be the funniest looking thing in that the water stayed shallow for so long. People were still walking....and walking...and walking. My wetsuit was still causing me grief, so before the water got too deep, I went ahead and pulled it down off my torso.

After a few hundred meters, I looked up to sight and realized that I had gone off course, way to the right. No one was around me, including a kayak. I looked for the white buoy, but it was blocked from my sight by one of the random orange buoys. This further disoriented me. My heartrate and breathing rate began to rise. I flipped over on my back and flutter stroked for a while. When I turned back on my stomach, I could see the white buoy at last, but wow! it was LONG ways away. I continued to alternate between flipping on my back and checking my position for quite a while. I was a little anxious, and knew I needed to get my heart rate and breathing back under control. I finally was able to find my "Go" gear and get to the business of swimming. It was a good thing, since there was no one around to save me.

When I finished the swim and was trying to wade out of the mud, my right calf cramped so badly, I was immobilized again and almost in tears from the pain...and the anger...and the disappointment of my 1:06 swim time! Needless to say, I was NOT a happy camper...even though I had just overcome my biggest obstacle to triathlon.

My performance for the rest of the race was okay. My bike time wasn't too bad: 3:16. My emotions were running rampant; I started bawling three times while I was on the bike--relief, release, gratitude, you name it. My run was ok. It was a little slower than I had intended, but my right calf was a tight as piano wire, and my left not far behind it. Seeing so many of the Reds ahead me disheartened me a little.

So, while my day personally was disappointing, the whole experience of the day was priceless. ALL of us finished that race. We were allowed in the finish area when Robbin, our last Red Lady came through and we were all in tears. What a day! What a wonder culmination of eight long months!

I've been in a bit of a funk ever since the weekend. I'd been warned of the post-race depression that was common, but I didn't really think I'd feel that way. I figured I would just be so happy that it was done and I could look toward the next goal. I know that it is partly due to my disappointing time on the swim. Ah, well. At least it should something I can easily PR the next time. LOL. I already have a new wetsuit on the way!