By the time I got to the taper week before the tri where I only had 3 workouts (30 min or less each), the whole thing was feeling a bit anti-climactic. The 2 "competition phase" weeks prior had been CRAZY with most workouts taking 2+ hours and it was more than a little tricky squeezing them in amongst the details of my regular life, my work schedule, and the available hours of sunlight. The only real drama the last week leading up to the triathlon was weather related. It was cold. Lake temps were predicted to be between 50 and 70 degrees (keep in mind, friends, that hypothermia and associated symptoms begin to develop at 55 degrees). Then there was the impending blizzard heading for the NE. My old roommie from DC, Andrea, was supposed to be flying down to spend tri weekend with me and it was NOT looking good. I was FREAKING out!!! I didn't want to freeze in the lake, but I hadn't arranged to rent a wetsuit. More than that, I didn't want to, and wasn't sure that I could go to the tri alone. I needed some back-up plans!
Super, SUPER long story short. I borrowed a wetsuit from the VA so I wouldn't freeze. The blizzard covered the NE and cancelled Andrea's flight days before it was even scheduled to leave Pennsylvania. The Schutter family from my church in Tampa planned to come cheer me on and my friend Karin was able to fly in last minute from Atlanta for the weekend.
I worked Saturday morning, headed to the Tampa airport to pick up Karin, and we were off on our journey to Gainesville/Waldo for Tri Weekend. Though chilly, it was a BEAUTIFUL day. Karin and I sunned ourselves in jeans and hoodies by the pool, enjoyed a picnic lunch, and eventually ventured to the park for packet pick-up. For the record, Waldo is OUT THERE and a bit farther from our hotel in Gainesville than we expected. Packet pick-up went til 6pm. I was the last racer to pick up. It was 5:58pm. Shew! As we pulled out of the park, I started getting just a teensy bit nervous. "That's a really big giant lake", I said to Karin.
We had yummy aloha chicken pitas from Pita Pit for dinner and watched some cable before crawling into our fabulous hotel beds. And then I couldn't sleep. NERVOUS!!!!
I woke up to 37 degree weather. Yes, I was still in Florida. As much as I hated that constricting wetsuit I'd borrowed, I was so thankful I had it! And I was SO thankful Karin was there to help keep me a little calm on the way to the park for the much awaited tri day.
The Schutters were waiting when we pulled in to the park, with signs with my race number and all kinds of encouragement on them...so incredibly sweet! Then there were ALL the crazy professional tri people everywhere. You know the type - 0% body fat looking perfect in their spandex, 5 oz tri bikes (compared to my 42 lb mountain bike), etc. Did I mention I was nervous at this point?!?!??! Then came the encounter at the transition area with the super crazy (read: mean) tri lady. She asked if it was my first time and I said yes, figuring she might be nice, encouraging, helpful, something, but no. Instead she criticized everything about me, my bike, my towel, my bag, my water, etc. And I'm not exaggerating!!! She totally upped my nervousness to a WHOLE other level!
I had to get away from her and fast, so I left transition to slither into my wetsuit somewhere FAR away from her, under a pine tree with my people. Then suddenly the race people announced 5 minutes to start time. Holy Cow!!!!
The water was COLD and it was incredibly windy on the lake. I was convinced for awhile during the swim that I wasn't even moving. Every time I sighted at the buoy, it was in the same place. I was getting nervous that my tri was going to end right there in the middle of the lake. UGH!!! I took a few more strokes and still wasn't moving - stupid wind! I glanced ahead and noticed a lot of swimmers had flipped over and were backstroking, so I figured it was worth a shot. I flipped, I backstroked, and THANK GOD I started moving. I heard my people cheering as I was swimming to shore and it was the best sound ever :)
I ran to transition, only I couldn't really feel my feet...SO cold. I wriggled my way out of my wetsuit and into my clothes, jumped on my bike, and started pedaling. I got passed by a lot of people. Okay, maybe by almost every other racer. At that point, I didn't care - I was 1/3 done with my tri and was going to finish no matter what. And at that moment, the Schutter's van pulled up with cheering fans. And I pedaled a little harder. And EVENTUALLY finished those 12.4 miles.
Then the run. My least favorite part of the tri. Did I mention I still couldn't really feel my feet? Brrrr!!!! I finally found my "trot all day" pace and ran through Lake Alto Estates...also known as small mobile home park with lots of sketchy barking dogs and one lawn with a small herd of fake deer. Then finally, I rounded the bend and headed back into the park, through the edge of the woods, and heard Karin yell "Hurry up, Becky! We're FREEZING!!!!" I saw the time clock at the finish line and sped up as much as I could and crossed at 2:15:04...just shy of my 2:15 goal. I finished and I couldn't believe it. I kinda still can't believe it! I'm not sure I'll be doing another triathlon anytime soon, but I'm so glad I did this one. And I'm so incredibly thankful for the love and support of my friends and family leading up to the tri and to my people who were there that day. Love to you all!!!
Becky's first triathlon: a very important adventure, and just the beginning of many more adventures to come...
