The Big Day

My set up in the transition area

Race Day. It was kind of nice that the race wasn't until 1:15. I still woke up pretty early at 7 and kind of dawdled around slowly gathering my things. I got to the site about an hour early after hitting a brief construction delay which stressed me out more than normally would. The parking was kind of inadequate and I just pulled into a random Region of Niagara driveway.


I unloaded my backpack and bike and walked to the race site.  I kind of wandered about missing the signs that were clearly marked step one, two and three. So, I went to the transition area and set up my bike. While I was doing that I hear a loud pop and looked around to see who had set off a starter pistol. That was not the noise I had heard. It was a tire popping for someone who had done the sprint tri earlier. I thought what he said, that it was good timing for it to happen. What struck me was the range of people there, every age, shape and ability. As I was wandering I saw someone who'd obviously crashed out. It scared me a bit. He was all wrapped up.


After the swim
(care of photofinisher)


I finally figured out where I was supposed to register and went and grabbed my kit, got my chip timer and was numbered. They write your bib number on your arm and your age on your calf. I was also warned not to walk through the gate into the transition area because it would set off my chip timer. I decided that I wouldn't put it on until race time, just in case. I hit the bathroom and chatted it up with some women in line. Everyone was so friendly! It's a very different environment from the running races that I've done.  I was still waiting for my friend to arrive so to make her process easier I went to check her bib number. She was 618. We're not sure how that happened as she registered months after I did, but I took it as a good sign.



Check out the chip
timer (care of
photofinisher)

I was pretty much all set up and went to talk to my friend who had her bike on the overflow rack. As it turns out, she was parked in the same random driveway as I- another good sign (in fact, post race we found that she was parked right across from me). I was cool as a cucumber knowing that I could do this. A race official came by to tell us that it was a bit of a walk down the beach to the start line and that we should get going. So we headed down together chatting with others while we walked along the rocky shore. At about 300m of the 375 I looked at the person in front of me and came to a horrifying realization- I hadn't put on my chip timer!



Cheering me on

I told my friend and then took off sprinting down the beach to go get it when I spotted some yellow shirts that the volunteers wear, it was a posse of teens and I explained the sitch asking if I could start in a different wave if I had to. One of the girls told me she'd go run and get the timer for me. Fortunately. I was only the 2nd bike in on my rack with a bright blue backpack so it was easy to explain where it was. While she did that I ran back down the beach to the start line looking for the one official. He was up at the top of a wall of very large rocks with a megaphone. I scrambled, barefoot up the embankment fearing that I would turn my ankle in this endeavour. When I got to the top I asked him what could be done and he assured me that I still had 5 minutes and I'd be surprised that she would turn up in time.



This picture cracks my
mom up. I'm going
uphill (care of
photofinisher)

I was not wearing my glasses and scanning the crowd for a yellow clad teenager. She got back in time and I gave her a hug thanking her profusely. Next, I had to find my friend. She was right at the front of the pack and gave me a big wave so I went over to her and we were chatting when they announced 1 minute. We kept talking and I asked her if we just leaped forward, I uttered those words, she turned to answer me and before she could say a word the race was underway. I now know what it feels like to be trampled in water.



I like this one because
I'm in the
background totally
nonchalant  and
taking it all in
(care of
photofinisher)

It felt like people rushed over me, beside me and all around me. When I finally managed to come up for air I was a little panicked. Swimming in Lake Ontario was different than anything I'd done before. Being used to breathing on alternating sides, having the waves wash over me to the left really threw me because on every other breath I was swallowing water. I was swimming really hard and felt like I wasn't getting anywhere so I started to worry about my time because you have to finish in under 20 in order to continue competing. I just couldn't get into a rhythm so I finally flipped onto my back and started backstroking. I felt much more comfortable doing that. I was clearly closer to the back of the pack and I could hear people coughing and sputtering around me and I thought that someone was fully going to drown beside me. Plus, the woman behind me repeatedly swam into me, even though she was wearing goggles and if she had have moved over a foot she would no longer be bumping into me. I tried to move out of the way but she followed. In retrospect maybe she was swimming so close to save her energy, but I doubt it. At this event you can touch the bottom the entire time so if you're not a strong swimmer I recommend this event. (Grimsby, Subaru series). I was really concerned about my time as I left the water but no one was stopping me telling me that I had gone over the time.



Nearing the end of the
cycle (care of
photofinisher)

I then had to go uphill into the transition area. Once there my friend was yelling words of encouragement. I was surprised that she was still there so I figured that I wasn't that bad off. I was getting my shoes and shorts on trying to pin my bib to myself and failing at that. I also had a HUGE sense of relief and knew that if I could get through the ordeal of the swim that the rest was a piece of cake. It was at that point that I decided to just enjoy the rest of the race. I don't think the smile left my face after that point. A woman in a wetsuit was on the rail next to me and she couldn't get unzipped so I helped her out, had a couple bites of an energy bar, drank some water...I wasn't really in a rush. I grabbed my bike and  exited the transition area. You have to wait until they tell you that it's ok to get onto the bike. I did that all decently and headed out for my ride.
My biggest fear is always burning my legs out. Plus, I was totally in the moment. I really did a leisurely bike ride. I was in NO hurry. The houses were done up nice along the lake. People all along the way gave words of encouragement it was quite lovely. I passed a 12 year old girl (ages on the legs, remember) and was so impressed because it meant that she had finished the swim faster than I had. At the halfway point there was a police officer cheering me on (because at this point I was well back from any pack, on my Sunday ride) which I really appreciated as it was a bit on an uphill at that point. In fact, I told him his cheering was much appreciated.


Gus, the pug even wore a sweatband for my big day!



Almost done!
(look how high my bib
is haha) (care of
photofinisher)

The ride back felt quicker when I was close to the end of the cycle my friends were there cheering me on with signs! They were the only people there with them. I loved it. At the finish of the ride my friends who were down from Ottawa were also there. I was so enjoying the race I considered just a brief chat, but felt it may be somewhat inappropriate.

I entered into the transition zone again, all alone, racked my bike, got confused as to where to go, figured that out and started the run, on grass. On verrrry wobbly legs. There was a slight downhill and I thought I was gonna take a tumble. My confusion did add some time for me to get my running legs back after the cycle My friends moved up and cheered me on at the start of the run as well.

I went from grass to road, my friend told me what was to be expected at she ran by, lookin' good I must say. It was on the run when I realized I had a big grin on my face, my cheeks were getting kind of tired and I thought perhaps I was mistaken but then I noticed everyone who ran by me gave me a smile. So I kept plugging along. At the water station I even took a cup of water, just to say I'd done it. I wanted to get the whole experience.  After the road I headed into a forested area which displeased me as I was afraid that so close to the end I would turn an ankle. I survived but at the end there was an incline. I told myself that I HAD to run up it as I often write about how much I love uphills. I did it for you guys! That's when I passed the one and only person on the run- as I panted up the hill I said, now this is just mean and she responded with "I know, what the fuck?!" Then, apologized for swearing. I felt it entirely appropriate. 

Action shot. At the end of my run

On my way back I saw the 12 year old running with someone. She was NOT happy, I willed her to finish the race! I was lovin' it and I just hoped that she would cross that finish line. On the way back I ran through the hose spray they had going. I had told the hose handler that she had the best job and she responded that she knew and everyone loved her! A volunteer told me that there was 400m left, which was quite helpful. My Nike+ tells me the same thing and I usually end my run with a sprint that distance. So I tried to give a little bit extra and saw my friends and realized just past them was the finish. I was smiling away and another volunteer told me to keep that smile for my photo at the finish. Then I heard my friend very excitedly yelling at me to look at my time. It was under what I had predicted!



Crossing the finish line with authority (care of photofinisher)

I crossed the finish line and my friend was there to take a picture. I was SO HAPPY. It was difficult but one of the greatest days of my life. I enjoyed every single second (after the swim, but in retrospect even that wasn't too bad).

The Cheerers and the racers (minus the one taking the pic
who's racing next year)

Sooooo my official times were as follows: Swim- 10:50, Transition 1- 3:42, Cycle- 33:57, Transition 2- 1:28, Run 23:57 for a grand total of: 73 minutes 15 seconds. A solid 21minutes and 45 seconds under what I had anticipated it would take me. My friend finished in 56 and change, 20 minutes under HER goal! I finished 3rd last. Behind me was the 12 year old (She DID finish) and a 70+ year old. See? I told you there was a great range in people. For the try tri there were about 500 people approximately 300 of which were women. I cannot believe how much I LOVED it. I can't wait to register for races next year and I will have my brother and a friend who came to cheer me on joining me. It was such a fantastic experience. I'm glad I got to share the race with my best friend and I look forward to next year and sharing it with other newbs and hope they love it as much as I did.

Post race: they had pulled pork for us!

Again, I want to thank everyone who came to cheer me on. It was a very special moment for me seeing you there. In addition, since having posted about my runs and tri several people have told me that it's inspiring. What a fantastic compliment. I appreciate it so much. That in turn, inspires me. Just get out there an be active. You don't have to wait for the body that you want to get out and live an active lifestyle. Why deprieve yourself of doing something you enjoy because you feel like you don't have the right body? Hey, I just posted pics of myself running, IN A BATHING SUIT and it was the time of my life.

Next up: A 10K on November 3.

Here's the link to my finisher photos. I was bib 617 if it asks: http://www.finisherpix.com/search.html
My race results (in case you don't believe me, or want to check out some truly amazing times) can be found at: http://www.sportstats.ca/displayResults.xhtml?racecode=102867

If you want to read about a spectator's POV on the sitch, plus see a beautiful blanket go to: http://operationstayhome.blogspot.ca/2012/08/casting-off.html