I survive my first Oly tri!!!
Message posted by: Darilyn K.
Well what a day.
I was in my usual state of shaking fear by the time we got to transition to rack up. Luckily it was pre-numbered so I didn't have to figure out where the "best" place would be. Unfortuantely doofus here got her stuff all ready and racked and was just about to go off and put her wetsuit on when another girl showed up and said "I think you're in the wrong place mate". I had managed to get it into my head that my nubmer was 124 when it was 128. Just as well she showed up before I had left or she would have no doubt been pretty po'ed.
There was a bit of argy bargy in transition as the racking spaces didn't really have enough room for people's tri boxes. I felt quite smug as I have a nice new tri back pack with compartments for all your kit and it sqashes down quite small when it's empty. There were some pretty serious looking bikes and athletes in the transition so then I really started to freak out.
The swim started and fortunately the adrenaline dealt with the shock of the 15 degree water. As soon as I got in I realised my goggles were leaking. I have those quite large "seal" goggles as I have tried all sorts of smaller eye socket ones but they all make me look like I have done several rounds in the ring the night before and I am worried about this becoming a permanent feature. Unfortunately this means if they leak, eventually both eyes fill up. Anyway the leaking kind of put me off my planned technique focus, but did divert me from worrying about other swimmers. We had to swim a triangle course twice, with a brief run onto the beach in between laps. I could see the first giant yellow buoy fine but then I rounded it and couldn't see anything but sun. I always thought I would not need to worry about sighting as I could just follow the swimmers in front of me, the problem was they all started to pull further and further away. The teams started 10 mins after the women,
In the Valley of Elah video and by the second buoy they were on me. I finally made it to the beach bit and tried to sort out my goggles as I ran around the cones. Back in I went and they were OK for a bit, but one eye was so tight it was all blurred. They eventually started to leak again, but by this time I just kept swimming. I had a personal kayak escort for the last two buoys, so I knew I was close to last. I finally got out of the water and the marshall said: " good on you – you're not last" – I wonder what he said to the the last person?
Turns out the swim took me 32 mins which was actually less than I had expected, despite total lack of technique the whole way (sorry Hadyn and Spencer).
I ran into transition and my training buddy who is a much better swimmer called out from her spot so I was quite pleased as I had imagined her to be at least 10 mins ahead. Good tranistion for first time with full sleeved suit, even though I put cycle gloves on as I had seen the hideous road surface that was coming.
Bike was long hill, short undulation, slight hill, windy downhill, very long hill with horrible surface, short down, right turn, very short flat past transition then back up the original hill. I know this because it was 5 laps. My first lap, top of first hill hubby was one of the gazillions of people who passed me. I'm sure one guy passed me 3 times at almost the same place. I passed my training buddy on lap 1 at the really ugly hill and she said she was battling. On lap 3 I saw her changed and on the side of the road with her hubby – she had decided it just wasn't working for her.
By my 4th lap it had pretty much thinned out so I told the marshalls on the final corner – "don't go home yet I have another one to go". On my final lap it was very quiet – the marshalls were all sitting down!
I was pleased after I finished to see that all 5 laps were pretty consistent timewise (shame they weren't consistenly faster!).
Onto the run – along the beach where Steph called out "is that Darilyn" so that was cool. A slow climb on the road which felt very hard, then turn onto the lake trail. It was actually a lovely run, but very much just "keep your legs turning" (in between "how the hell am I going to do 2 laps") Most people seemed to be on lap 2 already. Just before the end of lap one I passed a very fit looking guy walking. Shortly ater I passed him he came huffing and puffing up behind me- I reckon he was freaked by being passed by a girl. I didn't have the heart to tell him it was only my first lap. End of lap one and there was hubby which was a good boost. I wasn't thrilled to have to run about a km on soft sand again, but once that was over I was onto lap two and heading up the climb again. Another girl came from behind and I fended her off for a while but just couldn't keep up once we turned onto the trail. It was good though as she made me run faster and I caught 2 other women I have be
en chasing since lap 1. (Turned out at the finish she was in a team so I didn't feel so bad). The last few kms were hard as they were undulating bush run, but I could hear the MC announcing finishers across the lake and it kept me going. Finally I crossed the finish line in a total of 3:33:52.
I wasn't last in the swim or the whole event, and I ran the whole way except walking for the drink stations which was always my plan.So managed to achieve all of my goals.
Don't want to think about what the half iron will be like on the same course in a month's time!
Knackered now and very stiff so off to bed.
Phew!!
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