Triathafeet.

Yesterday morning I participated in my fifth triathlon.  

The race began at 4:15am as I tripped to slap the alarm clock and fell into a hole that lurks between my mattress and bed frame.

With a giant oops, my morning was in full swing.

Three cups of coffee and a 45 minute drive later, we were in Palatine, IL ready to rock the Twin Lakes Triathlon.

The distances were a 700 meter swim, 14 mile bike, and a 4.5 mile run.  I’ve never been in a race of this length, always either longer or shorter than this one.  

When we arrived at the lake, I left the sleeping baby and supportive husband in the car and biked to the transition area- about a ½ mile from the parking lot.  I racked my bike next to a few gentlemen in some serious tri-gear, and was already feeling sub-par when I went looking for some of the other members of my tri team.

My team is a bit misfit-y, we don’t know eachother, none of us our tremendously experienced, and we’re a motley looking crew.  I couldn’t tell you more than 3 people’s names, and have not consistently been to practice due to the whole moving/baby momma, crazy teacher scheduling.  Anyway, I digress.  

Before the race, you check in, get a chip for your foot – to let you know your time overall, and a t-shirt (usually so unattractive that you know you won’t ever wear it). You then proceed to the marking station, where two strangers emblazen your race number on both arms, and both calves (akward!). 

After check in, I went and double checked my race gear, getting out my Altoids (for opening your lungs after the swim- it’s amazingly helpful actually), my running shoes, glasses, hat, bike helmet, baby powder in a towel (for drying your feet after the swim- ingenious- new this race!), a towel, and bike shirt with nasty Power Bloc gummies for added race fuel (ha!).  My socks were lovingly rolled in my shoes, ready for nimble toes.  My bike positioned towards the end of the row, facing the bike “out.”

Next I went for a practice dip in the lake.  Temperature? Fabulous actually- my lucky break! Realizing that people were already lining up for race start behind me, I jumped out, and ran back to the car where Keith and August were just preparing to join the race fans.  I grabbed sun block, my swim cap and goggles, and went down to the water’s edge.  Kisses from the baby, and a rousing pep talk from Keith-“I hope you don’t chafe.”

The race began, and immediately I was startled into the reality that once again I wasn’t sure I was ready.  After about the first 400 yards freestyle, I had to stop and catch my breath… I’m a strong swimmer, but with the thrashing kicking feet and slapping arms all around me, I couldn’t seem to catch my stride.  Some sidestroke, backstroke, and breaststroke later, I was out of the water, and off running.

Up the hill, over a bend, and off to my waiting bike. … First a towel on the face.  Feet powdered, socks rolled, hair touseled, helmet on, shirt over head (opposite order), race belt on…. Ready, set, go.  Out of the bike rack, down the hill, to the start line, and pedaling up the hill.  Bike gloves on as I ride. A quick swig of water, and a slimy gummy (For Power!) down the gullet.  Then we biked through the hills of Palatine.  I guess I could say, we biked through the box-filled subdivisions of Palatine.  Past lakes, houses, parks, and schools, up gorgeous hills, and past houses I’ll never hope to own- enormous staff filled houses with more windows than souls.  Down past the local college, over some speed bumps, and through a nice part of Rolling Meadows.  All the while thinking, “I think I can, I think I can.”

It doesn’t matter who you’re near in these things, you want to beat them all.  For me, it’s about how slow I am on the run… the bike is my chance to make up time.  One less person to have to try and pass on the run, I think to myself as I pick my competitors on the bike.

I zeroed in on two folks to “wrastle with” on this leg of the journey. One young lady who kept passing me, then I’d pass her, then she’d pass me… Her bike = expensive (jealous? YEAH!).  Mine, like the ugly cousin who wants to date her bike- 20 years old and tired looking.  But, there was no stopping me.  I was going to catch up and triumph.  The second competitor, a man I’ll only refer to as “Lunchable,” was an able bodied young chap, fast, and prone to re-adjust his “bits and pieces,” as we rode.   I don’t want to see that stuff on the street, let alone in front of me on a multi mile bike.

The three of us were neck, neck, and sausage, the whole race.  We’d pass each other, fall back, and come right back up cycling.

Then, travesty.  My shoelace wrapped around my foot and into my gear.  Bad news.  Not only was it cutting all the circulation in my foot off,- I could no longer pedal.  I had to let lunchmeat and lady friend pass me up.  It was not the end of the race for me…. Oh no.  I didn’t stop.  I reached down – yanked my lace, and continued pedaling with my left foot while I stretched to shove the lace into my shoe.

It was very dramatic.

Seriously.

Stop laughing.

This is some scary stuff.

So, I caught back up with my friends. Them, and their fancy, lightweight, drool inducing bikes. . .and I passed them! HA HA!! Passed them both with about a mile to go.  I could see the lady coming back up on my left, but I kept going… working my mantra= “Speed walking is an Olympic Sport.” 

Back to the paddock.  Bike hooked back, helmet off, visor on, more slimy chews, an Altoid or two, and run, run, run… I forgot to tie my shoe after the bike incident, so I had to stop and fix that.

Into the hills of Palatine we ran.  Legs jelly after miles of biking, teenage race helpers shouting, “You can do it.”  Occasionally passing friendly faces, occasional friendly faces passing me.   I passed an old man with a great blond comb-over and some kicking Speedos.  He was cruising.   I told a guy I was going to “Kill this #$%^&,” shocked at my odd racing chatter.  I guess I was nervous?  Each race attendant we passed would tell us how much longer till the end—almost taunting.

But, I made it. Sweaty, nowhere near first place- but I finished.  Since I am clearly an amateur, I race for my own satisfaction, and to see if I can finish a race. Not to win, and not to break records.   There are so many hardcore athletes at these events it can be intimidating.  But darn, it feels good to finish.

After a ride home, a quick nap and a nice lunch, I checked my scores.

Top 75 women, 10^th in my age group. Possibly my best finish yet.  I have 2 months till my next race- the Chicago Triathlon on August 28^th. 

Right now I need a rest, but I’m hoping that my August, I’ll be ready to take “Lunchable” on for a second round.