Then we rode the running part and I got a flat tire on my back wheel. Bummer!! Luckily Adriane was back with Jen and I and she rescued us! Neither Jen nor I had tubes in our bag, and neither of us had ever changed a back tire before. Messing with the chain can get tricky! But Adrian, being the pro she is, made it look so totally easy and made me feel like I could actually do it someday!
Then we took some time and looked at the lake we will be swimming in- Lake Carolyn. And ya know what? It didn’t look that bad!! You could actually see the beginning and the end! It actually took away a lot of my fear for the swim! Here is a picture, so you can see how “manageable” it looks.
So that was Saturday . . .
Sunday- we are up at 6:00, getting everything together for our practice triathlon. We were to meet everyone at Lake Ray Hubbard at 8am. Well, I thought the lake was an hour away. So we left the house at 7am, started driving, turned on the GPS, and it told us we’d be there by 7:21! What?! So we got there, to say the least, a little early!
This was our first time in our Fit2Train uniforms! We were so excited to try them out!
Well, the swim was first. And though for the actual race, we’ll be in the lake pictured above, with concrete walls around it- Lake Ray Hubbard is a WHOLE ‘nother story!
When we got into the water, I thought, well- I’ll try it. How bad can it be? Then we practiced 2 “starts”- and what that means is that everyone starts swimming at the same time. All bunched together. Legs, elbows and feet flying Everywhere! Add to that the fact that you are in some pretty murky water and can’t see a thing- it gets crazy!! Here is a pretty accurate video.
Sunday- we are up at 6:00, getting everything together for our practice triathlon. We were to meet everyone at Lake Ray Hubbard at 8am. Well, I thought the lake was an hour away. So we left the house at 7am, started driving, turned on the GPS, and it told us we’d be there by 7:21! What?! So we got there, to say the least, a little early!
This was our first time in our Fit2Train uniforms! We were so excited to try them out!
Well, the swim was first. And though for the actual race, we’ll be in the lake pictured above, with concrete walls around it- Lake Ray Hubbard is a WHOLE ‘nother story!
When we got into the water, I thought, well- I’ll try it. How bad can it be? Then we practiced 2 “starts”- and what that means is that everyone starts swimming at the same time. All bunched together. Legs, elbows and feet flying Everywhere! Add to that the fact that you are in some pretty murky water and can’t see a thing- it gets crazy!! Here is a pretty accurate video.
And a picture:
On our first start, we were all pretty close to the shore. On the second, we stopped at the first buoy (about 50 meters out) and then swam back towards the shore. Meaning- we couldn’t touch! I was getting kicked and punched and held down in the water . . . I started to freak! My friend Lanie swam by and must have noticed the panic on my face- so she grabbed my arm, locked goggle to goggle gaze with me and said- you’re OK! You’re OK! And waited till I gave her an affirming swim-cap head nod before she swam on. Well I’m here to tell ya- once I made it back to that shore (I swam back the 50 meters) – I had NO intention of going on and doing the full 500!! Zip, zero, zilch! I was in tears, frustrated, scared and mad that I couldn’t do it. I looked and there were a few other women who also decided they couldn’t do the swim. I told them I was getting out- I was done. But they wanted to try and swim to the buoy and back a few times. I really didn’t want to do it, but they were so confident in me and we talked a LONG time before attempting it. So together, we gathered our courage and strength and we headed out to the buoy again. I had to do the side stroke ½ way into it, but I made it. I grabbed the buoy and fought to get my breath. We hung out there for a minute or two before we attempted the swim back. By the time we got back (I mean seriously, it was only like 2 minutes!) I was SO out of breath and freaked out, that I was wheezing!! I haven’t wheezed since I was like 10! So then I knew, THAT was it! I’m definitely getting out now!! But then the ladies talked to me again. The calmed me down. They waited on me- insisted that they wouldn’t go without me. By this time, other girls were getting back in from the whole 500 meters! I had, at this point, only done about 100 – 150 (we didn’t go all the way back to shore each time). Well, after about 5 minutes of calming me down and talking me through, we went One more time to the buoy and back. We were some of the last people out of the water (and there were like 50 people there!).
By this time, everyone had on their bike gear and were ready to ride. So I’m rushing to get all my bike stuff- shoes, helmet, socks, food, water . . . what am I forgetting?? I hear them rushing everyone so we could leave as a group. And I don’t know if I swallowed gallons of water in that lake or what, but I had to go pee SOOOO bad that I could hardly stand it!! I knew there was NO way I would make the 14+ mile ride if I didn’t go. Look around- no port-a-potty! I hesitate, then decide that this is one of those emergencies . . . so I pulled a squatty-potty move right there, hiding in front of Jen’s car! I don’t think I’ve EVER had to pee for that LONG!! Honestly!! I hear the coach yelling that we are about to take off. Wait a second man- you can’t rush these things!! What felt like 5 minutes later- I’m on my bike, jumping into the back of the group, and start the ride.
I’m feeling so frazzled since I made myself be rushed- I keep feeling like I forgot something. Water- check. Food- check, oh dang- I forgot my goo!! Helmet- check. Gloves- check. Sunglasses- oh man!! That’s what I forgot!! I forgot my sunglasses!! An hour on the bike without shades and you’re riding along side cars- never fun! The shades not only keep the sun out of your eyes, but also all the dirt that gets kicked up. Well, too late to turn back.
So- I’m 14 miles into the ride, tired but feeling good. I know we are less than 10 minutes from being done. And my front tire goes flat!! Doh!! I still don’t have any spare tubes!! Thankfully, a friend wasn’t far behind me, Ericka, and she stopped to help me. And I’m SOOO glad she did!! Not only did she have a tube, but she also helped me get it on (with the help of a nice fellow biker that was driving by). 30 minutes later, we’re on the road. As we start pulling into the parking lot, everyone was already on their run and most of them were almost done with it. So unfortunately I wasn’t able to do the entire run (or Jen would have been sitting in a hot car for 45 minutes waiting on me!). So Ericka and I just ran out to the water station and back- I think it was only about a mile.
So though I didn’t get to experience the Entire race day mileage, my body sure felt like I did!! Oh my gosh!! I was BEAT!!
Now Jen on the other hand- I am SOOO proud of her!! She did the Whole thing!! She was so strong and did SO good!! You go Iron Girl! I was also so proud of all the other Iron Girls. There were a lot of girls in my position about the swim. Just totally fearful!! But they DID it!! And I couldn’t be more proud to be training with such amazing women!!
So- one week to go. Feeling tired. Scared about the swim. Praying for God’s strength and wisdom!!
By this time, everyone had on their bike gear and were ready to ride. So I’m rushing to get all my bike stuff- shoes, helmet, socks, food, water . . . what am I forgetting?? I hear them rushing everyone so we could leave as a group. And I don’t know if I swallowed gallons of water in that lake or what, but I had to go pee SOOOO bad that I could hardly stand it!! I knew there was NO way I would make the 14+ mile ride if I didn’t go. Look around- no port-a-potty! I hesitate, then decide that this is one of those emergencies . . . so I pulled a squatty-potty move right there, hiding in front of Jen’s car! I don’t think I’ve EVER had to pee for that LONG!! Honestly!! I hear the coach yelling that we are about to take off. Wait a second man- you can’t rush these things!! What felt like 5 minutes later- I’m on my bike, jumping into the back of the group, and start the ride.
I’m feeling so frazzled since I made myself be rushed- I keep feeling like I forgot something. Water- check. Food- check, oh dang- I forgot my goo!! Helmet- check. Gloves- check. Sunglasses- oh man!! That’s what I forgot!! I forgot my sunglasses!! An hour on the bike without shades and you’re riding along side cars- never fun! The shades not only keep the sun out of your eyes, but also all the dirt that gets kicked up. Well, too late to turn back.
So- I’m 14 miles into the ride, tired but feeling good. I know we are less than 10 minutes from being done. And my front tire goes flat!! Doh!! I still don’t have any spare tubes!! Thankfully, a friend wasn’t far behind me, Ericka, and she stopped to help me. And I’m SOOO glad she did!! Not only did she have a tube, but she also helped me get it on (with the help of a nice fellow biker that was driving by). 30 minutes later, we’re on the road. As we start pulling into the parking lot, everyone was already on their run and most of them were almost done with it. So unfortunately I wasn’t able to do the entire run (or Jen would have been sitting in a hot car for 45 minutes waiting on me!). So Ericka and I just ran out to the water station and back- I think it was only about a mile.
So though I didn’t get to experience the Entire race day mileage, my body sure felt like I did!! Oh my gosh!! I was BEAT!!
Now Jen on the other hand- I am SOOO proud of her!! She did the Whole thing!! She was so strong and did SO good!! You go Iron Girl! I was also so proud of all the other Iron Girls. There were a lot of girls in my position about the swim. Just totally fearful!! But they DID it!! And I couldn’t be more proud to be training with such amazing women!!
So- one week to go. Feeling tired. Scared about the swim. Praying for God’s strength and wisdom!!
Stephanie,
ReplyDeleteI'm so proud of you for not giving up! Just remember on race day that there is always someone with you, you'll never be out there alone! I remember before my first half marathon, I stayed at a friend's house in Austin. On the morning of the race, I found tons of pieces of paper that had this: I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". It has stayed with me from that very moment. I think about this before I do anything challenging - and it helps me! YOU CAN DO THIS! :)