Well this race day didn't start how I would have liked. Even after getting all my gear ready the night before I still left my house around 5 am. Well if you know me and that the transition area opens at 5:30 then you would figured out that I wanted to be there at 5 am not just leaving. So I was a little bit rushed but I worked on keeping my calmness in situations like this and it worked. I got to Denton at 5:27 so I was still there plenty of time to get my gear set up and ready for the race.
Before the race even started I decided not to do any practice laps. Even though it was only 200 yards and I could have done a couple of laps without it effecting my overall performance because you know I suck at swimming. Instead I just walked a little into the outer water area to get a feel for the temperature of the water and then I did what I was contemplating using my anxiety pills before a race. I hadn't gone it for the first two this year and my swim was bad both times. I believe it isn't about the depth anymore but rather the fact that once the guy says go I am on the timer. But this time I decided to take my anxiety pill and try it out. Well it must have worked. Once I heard him say go, I got into the water, swam 50 yards pretty much with one of my quickest times and ended up having my best swim ever for a race. Only 200 yards but for me it might as well been swimming across the English Channel. I did it in 7:43 which was also about 2 minutes faster than I swam that same distance last year.
Finished the swim and for the first time ever my mind was clear, my nerves were normal and I was ready for the next event. I got my bike and off I went. I rode the first let's say 6 miles at the fastest time I have ever had. But those Denton hills that just keep on going slightly higher and higher ended up doing me in. But the time I got to the turn around spot I was starting to feel my legs getting a little worn out. But I stopped for a brief moment to put on my riding gloves and started back up and still finished very strong for me. I ended up doing the 16 miles in a little over an hour. For me, even on practice rides, I only get about 15 to 15.3 miles for a hour ride. So thanks to Coach Lyndsi I am starting to see speed, not the drug, on my rides.
So I get to my point where I should have been saying yes my strongest point of the game RUNNING. But no so fast there. I start off looking for water. I don't care if a strange man in an over coat had some or if I had to steal it from a little kid but I just needed water. Found it. And now I can start my run. I ended up doing the 5k in about 37 miles I believe. Not good at all but to be fair. This has actually turned out to be my weakest part of my game. I still have not gotten myself over the brick. I can ride and I can run but put them back to back and yes I am pretty much done. But even with the heat I didn't feel like my body was done I just felt like I sure would love to see a finish line right about now.
Last year when I did this race about 15 yards or so away from the finish line both of my legs cramped up horribly. I cross the line got my medal and headed to anything that I could hold unto until those cramps past through. It was horrible to say the least. This year when I cross the finish line the only thing that was cramping was a memory of last year. Because this year I felt very good crossing that finish line.
So now I can just worry about preparing for my next race(s). And that would be me considering a back to back sprint tri's Labor Day weekend. I might want to ask Coach Lyndsi if she thinks I can handle it. But again I am not good so it is not like if I wear out on that 2nd race that it would greatly effect my timing.
