Expectations? Psh, who needs 'em?
Taper? What's that?!
Race day arrived, and despite getting lost, I arrived with time to spare. Phew!
Swim: With water at a brisk 61 degrees, I braced myself for a chilly swim. To my surprise, it felt great. My new QR Hydrosix wetsuit provided comfort and freedom for my shoulders, and I felt great! Time? 28:06.
Bike: My legs felt like they were made of lead from the get-go, thanks to last weekend's bike race and my lack of taper. But hey, no stress! Power was a smidge low, and my bike split wasn't my best at 2:46:26. I tested the Stryker Nutrition with 90g of carbs per bottle. A bit too strong for my taste buds, so 60g might be the sweet spot. Ate 1 pkg of Precision Hydration Chews (30g) for a grand total of 80g/hour. No GI distress, but I wouldn't call it a magical potion based on my run.
Run: You know that feeling when you arrive at T2, and all you can think is, "Oh Fck!"? Yeah, that was me. My game plan: run loop 1 easy, then pick up the pace. I started my watch but refused to look at it, knowing my pace was probably slower than a snail's. My heel started to ache towards the end of loop 1, and I panicked, thinking of the dreaded Plantar Fasciitis. To quit or not to quit? I chose to keep it slow and run it out. It wasn't easy-peasy, and the grass and camber didn't help my foot. Sometimes, it's all about taking it one mile at a time and staying in the moment. I fueled with Precision Hydration 90g gel for the first 90 minutes, then switched to Coke. Final time? 2:02:55. Yikes!
I reminded myself: have fun, don't stress! I wanted to have a blast, not worry, and maybe go faster, but hey, a finish is a finish!
I'm grateful for the race, overjoyed to see Sheila PR her race, and thrilled to share the course with my coach. Triathlon is all about community; nothing beats hanging out with friends around a race!
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