Total time- 6:16:09
Swim- 45:08
T1-6:08
Bike-3:29:29
T2-1:47
Run-1:53:19
Second off, I am actually really happy with the numbers. I estimated times were 60min- 4hours- 2hours. Loved the distance.
Thirdly, doing the swim/ bike/ run is considerably easier than doing a 50k.
The Day
I had gotten the last room at Hidden Valley so we were able to stay as close to the race site without actually forking out a arm and a leg for Deerhurst as possible. Woke around 5:45 feeling like I had actually slept well, despite Luke saying I tossed and turned all night. Heated some water in the coffee maker for my morning oatmeal/ maple syrup/ hemp hearts/ Chia seeds/ almonds/ pumpkin seeds. Then ran my Tim Hortins coffee purchased the night prior though as well to warm it up. In fact our entire room did just that. Smelled like we destroyed the machine but we were all sipping on coffee walking over to the race site.
The all important question was what to wear. Single digits to start the day but was to warm up to a high over 20. My plan was to wear just my bra and tri shorts under my wetsuit and put on my tank, jersey and arm sleeves in T1. I debated leaving old runners at the swim exist to slip on my feet, but as there were so many pairs I decided against it, knowing it would be more of a waste of time looking for them.
I was in a later swim wave which was all good. Got in the water and was somewhat calm. Really wished I could have swam with my friend James who was in the last wave being as he was a relay. The sun was rather bright which made sighting difficult. I would say I was under control and didn't panic until at least 750metres in. Then I saw one of those party boats with people just staring at us and I swear it was making a wake so I was getting mad. I also felt like it was getting choppy. It helped a bit actually but I would have rather liked smooth waters. There was also a old man in a kayak yelling repeatedly 'stay left' or something of that effect and all I wanted to do was tell him to shut up! Once I turned to the straight away into shore I felt much better. I school of little fish swam beneath me, and I could see the bottom. My horrible sighting also led me to think that I had a long stretch left, in actuality I was at the swim exit before I knew it.
Used the strippers.. will not do that again. I have my own routine and I think it wasted more time. Completely regretted not having shoes, by the time I got to my bike I could not feel my feet. As I ran past Luke, he didn't recognize me as he thought I was a old women. Admittedly, I always look a little shell shocked coming out of the water.. but I looked that bad.. really?!
Once in T1 I made the flash decision to not wear my jersey and just my tank and arm warmers. Which was fine. Another big decision I had been debating was putting my bike shorts over my tri shorts for the ride. It is a long way to go on a thin piece of felt for padding so I had planed to put on the diaper like bike shorts in T1..... but they were not there. Ahhhh I had left them in my bag against the fence. So on my way out I dropped my bike on the ground and retrieved my shorts and put them on, must have looked....odd.
On the bike just really focused on staying positive and enjoying my day. I ate every 10 to 15min. A bite of a power bar or a chew/chomp sweet thing. In total I ate three power bars, one package of chews and two salt tabs. I would have had three but I dropped it. I drank about 1500 ml H20. Lost one of my bottles in Dorset just before the bridge, which really sucked cause I had just got it. I would have a tad drank more but was slightly fearful of running out. I would have loved to eat on course, but it was all Honey stingers and I still don't quite know if I have a sensitivity to honey, but during the race I wasn't going to try it.
Initially, I tried to play it all safe and stay out of draft zones but by Dwight I had been blocked and had to put the brakes on too many times. I really do not know what is so hard about staying right?? Did a lot of leap- frogging with a few other people. Dropped my chain on the hill into Dorset. Made a friend with a guy who had done the Ottawa iron the w/e before- insanity. We really worked together to push each other, unfortunately he also encouraged me to not waste a minute getting off my bike to pee, but to do what all the cool people do and just pee on the bike. Yah don't do that. Worst chaffing EVER. Seriously, raw and bleeding. Just don't do it.
There was a bit of a wind once we turned away from Bayfield, but I love the back end of the course so I really didn't mind. Around 75-85 were the worst. I had no more food to eat to distract me, my vagina was completely numb and I was just done. Once I got to the turn onto stick it was the final grind and push back in. There was a van behind me, and I was quite paranoid it was going to try to pass me unsafely so I gestured for it to stop and went to the center of the right lane so there would be absolutely no passing.. and when it could safely pass it did so. It was a race vehicle. I felt stupid.
Into T2 and quickly put on my race belt, shoes and headed out......right out of transition. Then it hit me. I was still wearing my bike shorts, my pee filled bike shorts. I had seen Luke coming in, and expected him to be at the same spot when I ran past, but what if he wasn't?? I wasn't taking that chance, so my poor dear friend spectating got to watch me ( along with several hundred people) whip off my shorts and had to endure my pee shorts until she saw Luke.
By the time I was starting the run the pros were done. What with the fact they started a half hour before me, oh and I am slow. Disappointed I didn't get to see my good friend Mirinda Carfrae. I mean I have tweeted to her that I could take her old bike off her hands if needed, and I am sure she is about to get back to me, but with Kona and her wedding coming up, I know she has a lot on her mind. I like to give my friends space and not smother them.
Anyways, just focused on getting the job done, enjoyed people watching and looking out for friends running. Really wanted to beat the relay team from our club but Matt caught me around 15k. I admit I held back a bit. I kept on waited for that death feeling to over take me, like when I am running long distances. I took water at every water station, and two gels. I attempted to drink coke, but it was pepsi and it was warm so I spit it out. I was really glad I had run the course and knew what was coming. My only issue with this course is the HWY 60 section. It is just so much pavement and straight. Mentally draining. Tons of water stations, but alas only one had music. Painfully quiet out there. One minor event that soured the day was another women in my age group being passed on foot by her coach for the last 5k of the race. He stuck with her until the second and she stuck with me until the last second and passed me in the final stretch. Officially she beat me by three seconds, but I hung back so I could break the tape by myself. I ran my race, and she didn't run hers. Or at least that's what I think.
All and all I feel really good about the day. I see now that I could have pushed it faster on the run. I also know that going into Mt Trembant I will definitely want to get longer bricks in. Swimming, it is enough if arrive at the exit alive. Oh and I want a new outfit.
Some of the tri club and our bracelets. I wore mine for over a week. Even to the next race, just cause I am that person. It is now on my car keys. I did restrain myself from spending big money at the expo.
