7 Things I learned at my first Triathlon

I completed my first triathlon this past weekend. It's pretty cool typing that and knowing that it is a fact right now. I will have to say for a first triathlon, The Rookie Tri was a really well put together triathlon. Thanks Jack and Adams and High Five Events for putting it on.  Looking back - here are a few things I needed to reflect on, and know I will do differently when there is a next time. If there is anyone out there considering or training for their first triathlon, maybe they can find my mistakes useful and not repeat them like I did.

1. OPEN WATER SWIM, OPEN WATER SWIM, OPEN WATER SWIM. Unless you are a competitive swimmer, swim often in lakes, swim really super fast and strong in the water, please read this. DO NOT underestimate the open water swim. I trained in the pool all day long and was pretty good doing a decent time per 100 meters. Doing 300 meters in a lake with no visibility, wind and waves are a completely different story. I was totally unprepared for the swim. Not only was it cold and I had no wetsuit, it was windy and there were waves. I couldn't even get in a freestyle rhythm because the waves were hindering me from breathing correctly. My swim quickly went from an attempted freestyle to dog paddling and doing the backstroke because I couldn't handle the waves. I also had to rest on a kayak for a bit because I had to catch my breath.  I do think the cold water and air affected my breathing. My chip time for the swim was 11:13. Let's just say that was the longest 11 minutes and 13 seconds of my life so far - even including laboring my children ha. I don't want to scare anyone but I did not get to do an open water swim or practice in that lake before the tri and I would definitely change that for next time. I would do multiple open water swims and practice with wind and waves because you never know what the weather is going to be like on the day of your triathlon. I still got through it but I know I would have done MUCH better having experienced swimming in open water. 

2. PRACTICE MORE ON TRANSITION. This being my first tri - I didn't actually try and 'practice' running to put my socks/shoes on while wet and getting everything ready for the bike, I was just doing the best I could but I wasn't really trying to do it the fastest. The more transition time you can practice on shaving off, the better your over all time will be. Since this was my first tri and not really a 'race' for me, my two goals were  to complete it and not come in dead last and I accomplished those two things. I see why people want to do these again because it's all about besting your own time. 

3. FIND YOUR FAVORITE SNACKS BEFORE THE TRIATHLON. During training I would take it easy, take breaks, not go hard core and sometimes stop on my bike and eat at the park I was riding  around or actually just have a quick uncrustable or granola bar. For some reason I thought for sure on my triathlon day I needed some gels so I get three different ones at the store and try my first one on the bike and it was beyond nasty. I can't litter during the race so I have this half eaten pack of GU vanilla/orange that I hated and I can't throw it away and I'm sure as heck not going to finish eating it so I just end up putting it in my bike bag once I get off my bike and transition to the run and held it in one hand half of the bike ride lol. Once you are comfortable with your favorite snacks you won't get distracted with a nasty tasting gel you can't handle. Powerbar actually just came out with a fruit pack I got to sample after the tri with their energy blend in it and it tasted good, so I will probably use that in the future. 

4. TRAIN ENOUGH FOR THE RUN. If I could do it over again, I would have run more. I was so focused and freaked out on the swim that I didn't run enough to be prepared for the two miles. I also would have done more "bricks" which are riding the bike a few times, then running so your muscles get used to the two different tasks. I ended up jogging/walking most of the run. I probably could have jogged the entire time but again I was beaten up mentally by the swim and after the swim I just wanted to finish. 

5. GET A WATCH.  I didn't want my first tri to be a race  or for me to be hard core about it so I didn't even have a watch. If I did have one I would have known it wasn't 20 minutes that I spent on the swim, more like 11. It felt like 20 minutes and without knowing a time frame I thought for sure I totally sucked in the swim. I was actually OK with around a 10 min swim so I wasn't that much off from my 'goal' since I ended up with 11 minutes 13 seconds in the water. I will def. get a fancy waterproof watch for next time so I can at least have an idea of my time. 

6. PRACTICE ON THE ACTUAL COURSE IF YOU CAN. I live in Austin now and most if not all of my future triathlons will be here in Austin. I know this is hard for people traveling from out of town to do triathlons to make this happen,but if you can practice on the actual course, do it.  I had the course map and I knew what the bike trail was going to be but I didn't practice on it. I was training on hills because I heard this course had hills, but they were different hills. This course was steep and fast and I was not fully prepared. The hills I ended up training on were gradual and I know if I would have practiced on this course, my bike time would have been much better. 

7. HAVE NO EXPECTATIONS, JUST HAVE FUN! I had two expectations - to finish the triathlon and to not come in dead last. I accomplished those two things but of course in the back of my head I had a time goal I wanted to reach and I didn't make that goal so I was a little disappointed there. I didn't train hardcore-I trained when I could. I didn't do anything special but stay consistent and show up to the triathlon and not quit, even though I thought about it during the swim. I had a great sense of accomplishment finishing the triathlon and I feel really good about that. 

I am a competitive person by nature so this was hard for me to just be OK with finishing and being toward the end of my age group which is maybe why I have a feeling I am going to be a triathlete that just wants to do better each time and beat my own record. I have played sports growing up and was always competitive, even with myself in solo sports like track. 

If anyone is halfway thinking about doing a triathlon and has that doubt that you don't have time or that you could never do it - you CAN do it! I work 48-50 hours a week, am a single mom with two kids ages almost 3 and 7. I still trained 6-7 hours per week when I didn't have my kids on the weekend and 4-5 hours per week when I did by utilizing swims at lunch, one night per week and an hour or two on the weekends at the local YMCA so they could play. I did a super sprint (300m swim/11 mile bike/2 mile run) which was perfect for my first triathlon and the time I was able to train for.  I trained for 3 months and my endurance was no problem during the triathlon, it was my mind and will that hindered me most. The biggest part for me was committing, and following through. Trust me, I wanted to quit the first few times in the pool because I could barely go two laps without feeling like my heart was going to explode. I am stronger now, have better endurance and I did something that at first I didn't think I could do. There was the weirdest mix of emotions crossing that finish line. I wanted to scream, yell, and cry all at the same time. It was worth it and I most definitely will do another one somewhere in my future. I can't just say I did it once and not try it again to try and beat my time, I just can't. 

If you have thought about a triathlon but aren't committing to train for one - what is holding you back? You CAN do it if you commit and put your mind to it! 

24 hours!!!

As I checked in to the Y at lunch earlier this week on Foursquare this little reminder popped up and I realized I have been doing something consistently for 3 months. I think that right there is an accomplishment in itself. I know I am not fully prepared for this triathlon and that I could have trained harder but it is what it is. I don't use foursquare religiously and a few check ins at the downtown y were not recorded, but it was a good reminder of the work I did put in.  

I know that I did what I could and as much as I could with the time that I had available. I am a single mom that works about 48-50 hours a week, sometimes more when I have a deadline but I still made my training a priority. I swam at lunch, I would swim at night at the Y and I also got the help of my family and my ex to give me certain weekends to train. I am thankful for the support and that everyone around me has been supportive. I know that I am not prepared for the run portion of this tri and that's OK, I just want to complete it. 

I have been super busy with work, thus the extreme lapse in blogging but I didn't give up on training and I am excited about Sunday. I have had some great training rides and I am also nervous because I didn't get a trainer, I didn't take not one class, I have no idea how I will do in transitioning from one to the next and I have yet to do an open water swim because I know I don't need to do it alone and planning anything with two kids was no easy task. 

I finally have a minute to rest - today is my rest day and I am just writing to encourage anyone that were to think they have no time or that they could never do something like this - think again. Of course I was not in training to win or be the fastest but I did train to complete it and not be worthless afterward. I can't wait to post my recap blog Sunday night and good luck to the thousand other competitors that will be there bright and early tomorrow! 

Swim Sabotage?

Last week was frustrating. I had planned to get multiple days in the pool but it just did not turn out that way. First off work is pretty demanding right now, but it will be much better in the next week as 2Q has to be wrapped up this week. On Mon - worked through lunch, Tuesday worked through lunch. Wednesday swam (yay!). Thursday at lunch TRIED to swim and the pool was closed? WTH? Just my luck some lightbulb exploded and they had to drain, clean and re-fill the pool at the downtown Y.  I then tried Thurs. evening at my local Y by where I live and of course there was a class in the lap lanes from 7-8p and childcare closes at 8pm. Last week was frustrating to say the least. I even brought my bike to my parent's house over the weekend to get in a country ride and the cold front came early and Saturday brought rain. I just can't get a break.

Ughhh! Parts of me wants to give up or just quit - but I have already made the commitment and I'm not normally a quitter. I may be ill prepared, I may have under-trained and I may be a complete vegetable on the couch after I complete this triathlon, but I'm not quitting and I'm gonna do it anyway, even if I come in dead last. 

I'm swimming as much at lunch as I can this week and have also hatched a plan to start bringing my bike to work with me so I can ride back and forth from the Y or just do a ride around  the lake at lunch, too. I will work enough training in somehow. I can't believe next week is April!! YIKES!

Just gotta keep moving forward without letting my worry or stress get to me, I just gotta do it and keep on going. 

Survived and Re-Energized.

Last week was SXSW in Austin, TX. Even though I did miss one day in the pool last week - overall I kept it together with my training. The best part was that I could get some bike riding in on Thursday, Friday and Saturday by taking my bike downtown and riding around during the festival. I took a few pics of my travels on my bike so I will share a few. The best part was not having to wait or sit in traffic. I could get around everywhere I needed on my bike since numerous streets were closed so it was fun getting around and since downtown has some pretty good hills, my hamstrings definitely got a work out. 

I wasn't the only one with the bike idea :)

So about 2,200 official bands converge upon Austin for a week and play at over 100 venues. It is definitely crowded with people and musicians. Here is a just a normal sight - bands carrying their gear from one place to the next. 

There were also pedicabs galore. I am sure the bars on 6th st and the pedicabs all made good money. I bet the bars made their entire year in one week. 

Here's a pic of a local pedicab owner pedaling around a customer

This was my first ever SXSW and it was a fun experience. I saw some bands, did a lot of people watching and still got some cycling in. I really forgot how much I enjoy live music and since half of the bands I saw were free to get in, it was definitely a win win. Now back to my normal life, training, routine and kids. I did miss my kids a bunch over spring break but they had fun with their dad and I got to recharge and fill my soul a bit. It was a win-win for everyone. 

I also went by Bicycle Sport Shop over the weekend and figured out all the gear I need to get equipped for my tri. I also drooled a bit looking at all the amazing bikes they have. One day at a time. I am going to get through this triathlon with my 1980's Univega and then make a way to get an amazing road bike later on this year. I just need to get through May 5, 2013 and we'll see what happens. 

Discouraged but still committed.

I still do not feel 100%. I have had some digestive issues and still do not feel normal. I have added a pro-biotic and other things to try and get regulated and normal but it still stinks. When I am not feeling great, it's so easy for myself to just throw up a list of excuses as to why I am not going to get in the pool or on the bike. The good news is I went yesterday and I was afraid because I took a few days off and I assumed I would be further behind, but that wasn't the case which is good. 

I am a little distracted this week because I have no kids and a ton of opportunities to be social and skip on the training. I'm in Austin, TX and it's SXSW this week - and there are free dinners, free events, and live music galore. Balance sure is a tricky thing. I want to still train and work in my swimming and biking but still see some great live music, too. As long as I can balance and feed my physical wants and also my social wants I will have a good week. If I do too much social activity I will feel guilty and be upset that I didn't train enough. To get my bike ride in this week I decided tomorrow I am going to ride the train and bring my bike - that way I can just get around downtown with my bike and not fight w/traffic at all. Riding my bike to swim at the Y will be fun, too. 

I also am struggling with joining a triathlon group or going on scheduled rides at my local bike shop. Even though I have worked through a lot of my own self-esteem issues, I am still self conscious - and I know if I show up on a ride, I tell myself the lie that I will be the only one without a $1k+ bike or cool gear and everyone will wonder why am I on this ride or that people will talk about me or whatever. I still don't know why I care what strangers think of me in the first place. I know those thoughts aren't true, but it still hinders me. Most people I have met or talked to that ride - don't care because they just love biking regardless. I will work up the courage eventually. I will also not beat myself up too much if I do indulge a little in social activity this week because most of my days are spent taking care of and spending time with my kids. If there is an evening event that pops up at work - I decline because my kids come first. 

Less than two months left - I just hope that I complete this thing and that I am not the last one on May 5, 2013. 

Sometimes I take my health for granted...

The past few days have not been that great for me, dealing with some stomach issues and totally not feeling 100%. I normally have a pretty strong immune system so this is not normal for me. I think sometimes I get knocked down in the health department to remind me to be grateful for my good health.  I did get my swim in on Tuesday and then felt just as bad yesterday with an upset stomach and blahness. I am also apprehensive about riding my bike on the major roads with cars for fear of an accident. One of my favorite tri bloggers is currently laid up with injuries thanks to a car not paying attention on the road. I guess this week has not  been that great for me. I won't get in the pool today because my son is having a school assembly to celebrate "Texas" this afternoon and he's excited about me being there. Of course I can't let my little guy down. I will have to push a swim to tomorrow or the weekend and just knock out a bunch of training next week since the kids will be with their dad. 

I haven't felt that great this week, but to stay on the positive side I did make sure I swam Tuesday even though I didn't really feel like it. Getting in the pool is half the battle for me. It's still so hard to see how my training is going to be enough - or that I will be able to do it at all on May 5, but I am still committed to showing up. 

Half of my battle is convincing myself I can do this - for me most of it is an inside job and I have made the commitment and I am going to keep on going even though I sometimes want to quit or stop or talk myself out of training. It's a struggle. What matters most is staying consistent even if I don't feel that great, doing it anyway. Gotta stay positive and keep going. One day at a time for me. 

Back in my element..

I got back on the bike today and boy did I need it. What a stress reliever for me today! My body now craves fitness or exercise to release my anxiety, stress or worries of my week. I have been enjoying learning something new, swimming but it's time to combine both and since I truly enjoy biking I was super excited to do the bike today and I will swim tomorrow. I live on a very popular bike street - even though the street is 60 mph there is a good sized shoulder and is perfect for cyclists. Even though I am afraid of some distracted driver accident or sharing the road with cars I braved the road until I got to the park with protected trails. Brushy Creek Lake Park is where I started.  The park is really good and I'm excited about it being just down the road. If I don't feel like riding on Parmer Ln, at least I know I can have a nice view on the hiking/bike paths and as soon as I get a trailer for my bike I will ride with the kids there, too. 

Not only do I enjoy biking but nature as well. I like how they combined the old rail bridges with the park and it's a cool place to ride. 

I also came across the funniest sign and got a laugh - like who is going to get off and walk their bicycle where there is a grade - that is the most fun part! haha. 

As far as my ride went, it was great aside from the few things that happened to try and prevent me from getting in a good ride. I totally banged up my knee before I left by running into the side of my TV stand because I am just that clumsy. It is throbbing a bit now so I should probably take some Advil. I also need to get a good pair of riding glasses, not because of the sun but because of - the gnats! I had to ride with my head down to shield myself from getting gnats in my eyes, nose and mouth. At some points it just felt like someone just dropped a bucket of gnats on my head during the ride which was pretty annoying. 

Once I got home let's just say I was wiping dead gnats out of unmentionable places, yes I even found one in my eyelid. I hardly ever spend a lot of money on sunglasses to begin with because I'm kind of forgetful and have lost my fair share of expensive glasses. I suppose if I just get a pair only for riding I can be responsible enough to keep them in the right place until I ride. 

Here is another bridge/path along the way. I love nature and it was a really nice trail ride. 

I am also going to be pretty sore in the thigh area! I am not used to the hills that are in Austin as Dallas is pretty flat. I wasn't exactly sure how I was going to work in my rides and swims but it seems to be working out so far so good. My kids will be with their dad during spring break and it's going to be really a big test for me because well, SXSW is happening during spring break and there will be so much temptation to go see live music instead of train. I just hope and pray I can work in enough of my training and still get to enjoy some up and coming bands. So happy to call Austin my new home :) 

Just Keep Swimming........

This is pretty much my motto these days...

I keep repeating that in my head even when things just go wrong. I was super excited yesterday to do extra laps without stopping or breaking my form. Of course, I am about 3 laps into my 300 meters and I get a toe cramp? I don't believe I've ever had a toe cramp before like EVER in my entire life and I'm thinking - wth? Why now? Of course I have to stop, massage my toe and  my goal was not reached and I was super bummed out. I guess the good thing is that I didn't quit or get too frustrated. I was just wondering what evil forces are out there to prevent me from having a good swim. If it's not the swim cap and gulping water instead of inhaling air, it's a toe cramp.  I massaged the toe for a bit, tried to swim again and it cramped again. It was the toe right next to my big toe on my right foot so then I figure if I don't kick with that leg, it won't cramp again. That was pretty fun swimming with only my left leg kicking and since I was not going very fast - that didn't last too long, either. 

The good news is that with only a few weeks in the pool I am building some endurance but still working on technique. I figure I am just going to struggle during the swim part, but surely I will make it up on the bike. Ha. Speaking of the bike, I have got to get on it this weekend! It has been challenging coordinating visitation with the BD still living in Dallas but we worked something out for this weekend - he is going to come to Austin for the weekend because I sure as heck am not driving there and back so I can get some time on the bike in and get things done that are easier to do alone - including just buying weekly groceries. With two kids that is about two hours worth of pleading to behave and negotiations on what they can and cannot get. All and all this will be a good weekend of swimming, biking and still getting to spend sometime with my kids when they are normally with their dad. Hopefully tomorrow will be toe-cramp free in the pool and I can get in some good laps this weekend, too. 

I now give swimmers HUGE props!

I haven't quit yet which is the good news. The other news is that swimming is HARD. I mean I learned to swim when I was little and I can swim anywhere to get where I am going in the water but other than that I never pursued competitive swimming. Freestyle swimming is a completely different story. I never realized how much mental focus is involved in swimming, either. My first 3 times were totally awkward but it's getting better. I waited a few swims before I got a swim cap because I just thought I would look like a total dork. So this is how I over think things. I go to buy a swim cap at Sports Authority - I picked a $10 range of a silicone cap and picked white to go w/my suit. So I bought a TYR cap and figured there would be instructions on which way to put it on your head, which it does tell you how to put your hands inside and then put it on your head, but it doesn't tell you which way to put it on your head. I am particular about these things. So I got this hat but in white so there is a logo on each side and I tried to find a picture of someone else wearing it so I don't look like a total dork when I get in the pool for the first time. Does the logo go on the sides or the front/back? I do a dry run with the cap and am thinking this thing is so freaking uncomfortable. I seriously considered not wearing it at all. It reminds me of when my daughter squeezes each side of my cheeks so she can do the "fishy face" with me and it feels like someone is pressing down on my forehead and pushing my eyebrows over my eyes. I tried to make adjustments and then I figured every single swimming professional wears these things so maybe it's like getting used to a bra - the more you wear it the less uncomfortable it will be. I have no idea who thought it was a good idea to have a harness over your boobs but at 36 years old I had no choice but to get used to it, I supposed it will be the same with the swim cap. A last note on the cap, I went with the logo on the front and back of my head and walk into the lap pool area, see a woman that has the exact same cap as me with the logos on each side of the ear and I immediately fix the cap. I really need to stop caring what people think of me - I'm working on it but I still struggle.

I do my first swim with a cap this week and once you are in the water, it's really not that bad! I swam the longest I have yet Thursday and today and I was sore this week so I guess I am doing something right. The problem with me is my thoughts are all over the place most of the time. If my head goes wandering somewhere that is not me focusing on what I am supposed to be doing in the water, it just goes all wrong. Thursday was a perfect example which now I believe of course swimming has the obvious physical part to it but also a huge mental part as well. I have played basketball, ran track, biked (although not competitively) and played softball, volleyball, snowboarding and other sports. I guess I do a lot of team sports so I'm sure any solo sport is just you and the task but I can run track and do the long jump or triple jump without having to completely focus my thoughts on what I am doing 100% of the time. That is precisely why I love biking - either my thoughts can be emptied and I can just bike or I can get in a good biking rhythm and have a very productive thought session, like I did here last year.  There is so much technique and rhythm to swimming that I never realized before. If I lose my train of thought biking I don't fall off the bike or have to stop and re-start again. With swimming I totally have to break my form if I gulp water instead of inhale air - or if I am worried about the nice looking guy that just shared a lane with me and feel totally intimidated with his professional swim shorts, lightening fast swim pace and wrist watch that probably tells him everything like his heart rate and timing his laps and probably how hot he is, too. Do they have siri-like triathlon gadgets I don't know about? Ha.

I feel good this week and one things is for sure - I am going to have some guns when May comes around. I totally have that back arm fat gene (just ask my mom) and even though I am not overweight, if I had a BFP test done today, most of it would sit in the back of my arms and thighs. Now that I am getting some progress in swimming the next part of my goal is doing both biking and swimming as much as I can before May 5. I am just going to believe i can figure the running part out - I mean it's running.  I am so excited I can bring my bike to the YMCA that I am a member of , drop the kids off at their childcare and still ride my bike along the trail and not have to go far at all. All in all, Austin is the perfect town for me to begin this journey in embracing my life as a single mom and still spending quality time with my kiddos and working in my exercise and training routines without it affecting my duties as a mother. I CAN do this! Onward!

What did I get myself into?

I have had a lot of change in my life recently. I committed to becoming healthier, I recently moved to a new city. Austin, TX is now my new home (woo hoo!) I have a new job that I love and pretty much started a new life in 2013. I am a single mom of two children 6 and 2 1/2 and I do not exactly have a bunch of spare time on my hands.  At this moment I am wondering why in the hell I got the crazy idea to try my first triathlon in a mere 79 days. I am semi-athletic. I played basketball in HS, ran track and have a decent physique. I am not a swimmer, nor a runner. I do enjoy biking and can ride 20 miles without any issues other than a sore ass.  I have been embarrassing myself in the pool the past week and a half and I'm severely doubting my decision. I have already paid my entry fee so I really need to step it up or take advantage of the 50% refund I can get by April 4, 2013 if I want to quit.  

I have a few options - just do it anyway and possibly come in dead last so I can at least knock this off my to do list, quit altogether or use the next couple of months to at least become decent in the water, run some miles, continue my biking and see what happens. I can't help but let the negativity creep in. I am attempting to simply complete the 300 meters in a lap pool all at once when I can barely do 50 meters without my heart exploding out of my chest - the doubt is pretty severe. Not only do I have to do 300 meters straight in open water with 40-50 other women my age kicking and swimming and flailing about in a lake I won't be able to see two inches in front of me - I then have to get out, jump on my crappy 1980's bike for 11.2 miles and then run two miles after that. Please tell me there is some amazing adrenaline rush or some type of addicting experience at the actual event or I would almost tell myself that I am insane for the mere fact that I just payed money and signed up to physically torture myself. 

I can't believe people complete Ironmans like it's no big deal. I am doing a baby tri and it's hard for me to even imagine or picture myself doing even just the swim part, let alone swimming, biking and then running. I don't know why I thought this might be fun or that I would be able to complete it without physically wiping myself out on May 5, 2013. 

I also didn't realize the cost associated with triathlons in general. The $85 entry fee was one thing, and then because I am not a triathlon member or something I have some $12 race membership fee for race day, and now I get to save up for an outfit to wear because anything at a really nice bike store is minimum $50-75 per piece from the get go. For my birthday I will be asking for cash donations from my family so I can get the outfit to wear at the tri since it's a few weeks before the race. I will also be rocking up to the race with an almost antique bike with no road handlebars or anything and I do not have fancy clips or a fast bike. I love biking but I don't have the money to get a nice bike because my $ goes to feeding, clothing and paying for after school care for my two lovely kiddos. I suppose if I somehow get hooked on tri's and don't make a complete fool out of myself in May, I will have to save so I can invest in a nice bike and then I will probably want to compete - and try to place if there actually will be a next time. 

I have decided I'm not going to stress myself out over this and I hope I can watch enough swimming videos to get a decent technique down because I can't afford swimming lessons right now, either. I just hope to finish and not look like too much of a rookie, even though that is the name of the tri - so I guess I will fit right in! If anyone has any pointers, or advice, please feel free to give me some feedback. 

I am definitely feeling overwhelmed at the thought of actually doing this and finishing it so I'm just going to keep getting in the pool and hope things get better. Right now I am struggling in the water. Are these feelings completely normal? Any advice would be appreciated.