Well, I did it! My times were nothing to write home about, but I did it.
A few years ago, we got our friends and neighbors Brodie and Eric into triathlon. Eric’s first race was the Giant Acorn in Lake Anna, Virginia, and he has made it a point to race it every year since. This year, they invited us to stay with them at their lake house and race Giant Acorn as well. After much discussion, Stuart was emphatic that I needed to participate in a tri this year, simply to know that I could do so.
Distances were short – 750m swim, 12mi bike and a 5k run. Just a year ago, this was an event I wouldn’t even have trained or tapered for – it would have been a training day in its own right. Instead, I found myself more nervous than I was in the run up to last spring’s half iron.
Brodie ended up not joining us, but Eric and his youngest son were great hosts on Saturday night. Sunday morning we headed over to the race site. I’d decided not to rent the wetsuit, but quickly learned when we arrived that the water temp had dropped from a fairly warm 78 down to a less delightful 73. However, that was still quite a bit warmer than the chilly 50-something degree air temps. Poor RJ was bundled up to the gills, but still wasn’t too happy about being there!
Setting up my gear in transition took a little bit longer than normal, a sign that I was indeed out of practice, but I got things set up without too much hassle. That done, we had close to an hour before the race began when RJ started to wail. So, in a bold step towards combining mommyhood and triathletedom, I sat down behind a tree for some semi-privacy and nursed my little one. Eventually though, it was time to head for the water.
Standing knee deep in water waiting to take our places for the in-water start, I had one of the best moments of the day. I said something out loud about how this was a bad idea, or how I was nervous or something like that. Two women near me asked if it was my first tri or my first open water swim. I responded that it was my first race since having a baby earlier in the year. The response was amazing! At least half a dozen women said “wow, that’s awesome”. One said “you’re the role model for the rest of us that we can do that, too”! As we walked into the water one of the women asked my name and said she’d be looking for me and cheering me on. The announcer called out the 30second warning and I heard a “Good luck, Tamara” from somewhere in the water. What a great way to return to racing!
I’m a bit disappointed with my swim time, but will attribute it to going a bit off course and having to stop and clear a few lung-fulls of water. I’d only been in the pool a handful of times in the last 7 months, but felt pretty smooth. Oh well. RJ’s taking a waterbabies class once a week, so Stuart and I will rotate getting in a workout and taking the class with her which means I’ll be in the water at least a few times over the winter. And hopefully more than that! I will say that I’m glad I didn’t bother with the wetsuit. Maybe it would have saved a minute on the swim, but I noticed a lot of long T1 times that I attribute to having to take the darn thing off.
Jumping on my bike was the “coming home” feeling. I love riding. Since I’m so out of shape, I left the HR monitor and cycling computer at home, since the data would have been meaningless. As a result, I was riding by feel only without a sense of speed. The rolling course really only had one or two hills – and I wouldn’t even have considered them real hills had I been in real racing shape. Overall though, I passed more people than passed me (not hard when you are a slow swimmer!) which was a good feeling.
As I approached T2, I saw Stuart and RJ at the side of the road cheering for me. My transition times are usually pretty speedy, but those have suffered as well. But, I was out on the course before I knew it. Nothing felt so good as taking a quick break to hug and kiss my favorite fans. The run course had been billed as flat by our buddy Eric, but I’m not trusting him any more! A few flats, but mostly a series of long downhills and some long inclines. Again, without a HR monitor, I ran on feel, settling into a comfy pace. Half way through, I got another little pick-me-up when a female runner passing the other direction yelled out “way to go Mom, keep it up!”
Before I knew it , I was headed for the finish. Stuart and Riley were there with big smiles. Well, Stuart was smiling. RJ was just happy to be back in my arms. We wandered off towards the water’s edge, and settled RJ down with another nursing before gathering my gear from transition and heading home. I know it sounds funny to mention that here, but to me it’s really important. One of my biggest worries about training and racing is how she’ll manage without me, and whether I’m cheating her out of time with me – her mommy and source of food. This was really a validation that it can be done. That my pre-baby identity as a triathlete can be assimilated into this new life.
On the way home, Stuart reiterated how important this race was. Now, I can look towards 2011 with excitement, instead of trepidation. When you fall off the bike, the quicker you get back on the better. So true in this case. We’ve got a few more running events before year’s end, but I’m already thinking about next year’s race season.
I’m back!!
