Monday, May 14, 2007

Failure is the greatest opportunity for Learning


I made many juvenile tri mistakes, but the biggest was ignorance. I decided I could finish in less than 8 hours. I did the math (I love numbers and will crunch them all day if I let myself) I could finish the swim and be out on the bike in an hour.

I forgot my LSU practice nike top the Will hooked me up with. This is the skin tight top I race with. It really does nothing more than help me feel comfortable walking around in public, so that sucked. Stupid I know, but I struggle with the looks ( I AM NOT LOOKING FOR SYMPATHY I AM JUST SHARING) I get and they were double for the ½ IM.

I took off on the swim and felt great. I realized about 200 into it that I sucked at finding the buoys and I went WAY off course twice. But I really did feel great. Half way through I realized that the LSU nike top is very useful. My face rubs against my right shoulder when I take a breath and today I have a major burn from that, nastiness.

I came out of the water feeling good. Then I realized that I don’t like running on the beach. I almost fell once, like a dork.

T1 was fine.

Then there is all of that number crunching. I decided I needed to average 17.2 mph to reach my goal of sub 8. Here is the ignorance. My first year (2005) in tri’s I averaged 12.9 mph in my races. Last year I averaged 15.3 mph! All that is fine and good, but not for this race.

I kept a 17 to 18 mph pace until about mile 15 when I began to cramp. I stopped and stretched, but then it moved me to about 16 mph average. I forget what mile the bridge was, but this guy kicked butt (for me) getting up that hill and going down the other side I was FLY’N!!!! and there were a lot of cars at the intersection we turn on to 388. To all of those people waiting in their cars . . . I was a cycling machine! Then my calves locked up.

I heard Susan at about this point holler for me, I kinda whim ply yelled back, Go Susan!.

At took a stretch break and I wished I was done and I felt like crap. After the turn around My calves were becoming unbearable. I was unable to pedal properly. I was trying to pull and not pedal through since each time I pedaled down my calves locked up. I did this until the 40 mile mark where there was an aid station.

This may sound gross, but I usually am able to wee on the bike, but I couldn’t during this race and I may have been looking for an out mentally? But I went into the port a potty and it was hot in there. As I stepped out my left calf felt like it was going to rip and I whimped out and gave up.

As I was ridding back in the sag truck I became a little more pissed as I saw that I had such a short amount of distance left, but I couldn’t do it.

I arrived back at the race area.

This sucks for me (I feel like I have to say this, I am only sharing I am not looking for sympathy) I hate not finishing and having to walk through everyone back to transition. I feel like (I may be wrong) but I feel like everyone sees me before the race predetermining I won’t finish and then I don’t, I know, stupid for me to worry about even if it is the case.

I racked my bike and went to the room to get the gel to rub on my calves to, hopefully help. Bad move. As I made it up the second flight of stairs I had to wobble with straight legs. Then I hit the air condition of my room and laid around cursing and rubbing and stretching and nothing would help.

I would find a “non-cramping” position and out of no where Wham! A cramp would shoot in and I was up hobbling around the room cussing and hitting my legs. I have a bruise today on whatever the muscle is that runs to the outer part of your shin. I found that hitting them when they cramped actually made it better!! Gloria will probably yell at me, but it helped at that moment, but I have a heck of a bruise today because of it.

About 2:00 am I was able to fall asleep without waking to a shrieking noise in the room (me) while jumping out of the bed trying to relieve the cramps.

But, I am VERY glad I did it. I learned a lot and I also found out more about myself.

I am sorry I wasn’t at the finish line to cheer everyone in to their glory. That really is one of my favorite things to do is see all of your success and I like to think that my loud mouth and excitement for your success helps you and I wish I would have been there Saturday, but I was in a bad state and I don’t mean Mississippi.

My coach and I will begin prepping for IMFL in November. He wants me to cut 100 pounds by then and I will.

Congratulations to everyone! You guys rock!

Saturday, May 12, 2007

Failure


DNF

Did Not Finish

I have a lot to learn about ocean swimming. I veered off course badly on the way out. Coming back in was much better since I picked out the hotel as my mark. I felt strong throughout the entire swim.

Wind was rather calm in the first 10 miles of the bike. At the bridge it picked up. I began to cramp in my calves at mile 20. I had to stop once before that at mile 15 or so to stretch them and they felt fine afterwards until mile 20. I rode through it until the turn around and had to stretch them again. They were locking up (the right one badly) and it was becoming too painful.

At the aid station mile 40 I stopped to wee wee and that was it. I was done.

I tried my best. I tried my best.

I love you Amanda. I miss you. See you Tuesday.

Thanks Susan and everyone else who hollered for me on the bike course.

I am ok, but disappointed in myself.

Friday, May 11, 2007

SUB - 8

Tomorrow - May 12th

My goal is to finish in under 8 hours. I will.

1.2 miles swimming

56 miles cycling

13.1 miles running

in less than 8 hours . . . My Gulf Coast half ironman

Wednesday, May 02, 2007

Gulf Coast Triathlon - May 12, 2007

May 12, 2007

I will swim 1.2 miles (probably very slowly). I will bike 56 miles (even slower and with much pain) and I will run 13.1 miles (more than likely I will jog/walk).

I will finish the race.

Have a great week!