Innermost Thought: I Tri-ed.

September 21, 2005

I Tri-ed.

This weekend I completed the Danskin Triathlon in Sandy Hook, NJ. It's a mini-triathlon with 1/2 mile open water swim in Sandy Hook Bay, an 11 mile bike ride on the coast and a 5k run to the finish. I've been training with Team Danskin through the Heartzones company. While the race has been in the NY area for a few years, this year was the first Team Danskin Training in the New York area.

The New York Danskin is THE place to start Tri-ing if you are lucky enough to have an extra X-chromosome. It's a smooth, flat course, the weather is gorgeous, and since it's the last race of the Danskin season the merchandise at the expo is at bargain basement prices. I picked up a 2-piece tri-suit for $40 (It retails for twice that.)The expo isn't as large as the other races, but that only adds to the charm and intimacy of the NY race. By Sunday morning at 7:00 a.m when the first wave heads out to swim, everyone is a buddy.

I felt prepared for the event because of the training. Though I'd fallen off the wagon a bit during Grandma's birthday weekend and the September Project, I still had a really good training base. I knew I would finish; I just wasn't sure when. I really wanted to finish under 2 hours. At various points during the day on Saturday before the race I was alternately positive I would finish under 2 hours and positive it would take me at least 3 to cross "the line". Truthfully I had no idea how this would all end up,but I was completely jazzed about the whole process. Saturday was all about fun! and getting hyped up and having a good time with Magda (who came with her mom and grandma to cheer me on) on the beach. It wasn't until I stepped into the water of the bay at 7:16 on Sunday morning that it occurred to me, "Whoa! I'm really going to do this. It's too late to back out now."

The Swim

At 7:16 my "wave" took off into the Coast Guard section of Sandy Hook Bay. Because the Danskin is so large the participants start their race in 3 minute increments called waves. I was in the 6th wave. With my neon green swim cap(denoting my wave) atop my head and my new special "wick away" moisture tri suit at the ready, I stepped into the warm water of Sandy Hook Bay ready to take on the Bay. I am a gorgeous swimmer. At least, world champion athlete Sally Edwards told me I was. A few minutes swimming in the choppy bay water and I didn't give a damn how I looked. Yesterday a teammate who had scoped out the race site said the water was as smooth as glass. Well, if this was smooth water I was happy to be considered a Wuss. Every few strokes I'd look up to see how close the buoys were. They didn't seem to get any closer. Other swimmers were in my way or trying to swim over me. Before the race I was determined not to seek the refuge of a swim angel's noodle. With each smooth-as-glassy-super choppy wave, my resolve was weakening. "I will not use a noodle. I WILL not use a noodle." Maybe I'll use a noodle? Shut up! I WILL NOT use a noodle. Thank God for Dory who swam in my ear and whispered her mantra, "just keep swimming, just keep swimming..." After what seemed like hours, a few accidental gulps of salty water and thankfully no jelly fish I emerged from the water to make my way towards the transition area to get ready for the bike. The one thing I left out of my gear bag was my heart monitor watch so I had no idea what my time was.

The Bike

My transition from swim to bike took awhile. The transition area was 200 yards from the swim exit. Walking/running barefoot isn't really a good idea for me as I might have a spur. Thanks to whomever invented the miracle wick-away fabric of the tri-suit. I rinsed my feet, put on my shoes, Team Danskin overshirt, bicycle helmet, sunglasses and made way for the bike course. I am now an athlete and GORGEOUS cyclist. I really was a gorgeous cyclist. I'd bought my Specialized Hybrid bike a few years ago thinking I'd eventually get it together to do a triathlon. I wanted a bike that I could sit up on; that biking posture hurts after awhile. Though many people told me I would want a road bike after doing a triathlon, road bikes are much more expensive than hybrids and I wasn't convinced I'd go for that uncomfortable bike posture ever. The bike ride was my favorite part of the triathlon. As I mentioned before, the course was flat and along the coastline. The weather was, like me, gorgeous. A few fishermen were catching fish on the rocks, the sun was shining and the breeze was blowing. I was cycling constantly in Zone 3 of my maximum Heart Rate and enjoying life. Many people cycling the same cadence were passing me but what could I do? I'll get there when I get there. At the halfway turn, the ride became a little different. My tailwind became a headwind and I realized I had to bike the remaining 5 miles into it. Ugh! It still wasn't that bad but my zen groove was busted. It was a gorgeous day though...and I was a gorgeous cyclist. I couldn't help wishing for the pink road bike I had test driven Saturday at the Fit For Women Bike Tour booth at the Danskin expo.

The Run

Even with the headwind, the bike section was great. I sailed into the Transition area to stow my bike and gear, don my cap, racing number, and hopefully remind my legs how to walk. The run turned out to be tough. My body was tired and my "maybe I have spurs" spurs were making sure to remind me to go to the podiatrist before I do this again. My shins were doing some funky things too. I was positive I wouldn't finish in under 2 hours and 30 minutes but I am now a BI-athlete and a gorgeous runner. The course was flat but meandering and my scope of distance was really out of whack at this point. The great thing about the meandering path as it gave me a chance to see my friends who were ahead of me as well as my friends who were behind me. We also ran past the oldest working lighthouse in the country. I had to walk the course more than I would have liked. This portion of the course is where I have the most opportunity for improvement. I did manage to run the final few hundred yards to the finish line.

And now, I am a triathlete, a gorgeous triathlete (Sally Edwards said so.) I finished the race in 2 hours, 7 minutes and :30 seconds. To see my full results, check out the Danskin results site, click NY METRO, and enter my last name. I had a great time in both the training and the race. In general, it feels really good to be active again. My mood, my asthma, my focus: everything improves when I am active. After mentioning how difficult I found the smooth, glassy water, my sister and mother (who have each done a few triathlons) assured me that the water was really choppy. Now, I don't feel so much like a wuss and I look forward to the next triathlon. Because there will be a next time. I'm confident that with a little more training I can make it into that elusive Under 2 hours club even without a roadbike. But I still want a roadbike. (Carl, if you're reading this, I think I might take you up on your offer.)

Challenge

There are quite a few women in my family who have completed triathlons. There are also quite a few who have not. To them and any woman reading this entry, I challenge you to "Do the Danskin". I'll definitely do the New York one next year. I'm even considering doing the Disneworld too. So come on! Danskin 2006.

Posted by mermu at September 21, 2005 04:41 PM

Innermost Thought

A Texan girl falls in love...with New York City