Elkhart Lake Triathlon A.K.A The 7th Circle of ...

56.5K...Approximately 35 miles...My first Olympic Triathlon...The 7th Circle of  Hell.  

All of these things describe the Elkhart Lake Triathlon.  I am told that in 2011 the race was literally cold.  On June 9, 2012 it was over 90 degrees.  And there was wind, 25MPH wind.  And God there were some mighty hills for a course that was described as picturesque with rolling hills.  I'm sure I might have considered the course beautiful and picturesque (and maybe even rolling hills) IF I had been in a car instead of on a bike!  But, I finished!  And although I was not very fast (read as extremely slow)...I FINISHED (which meant the Tiki Bar was in my future)!  

It is important that you know that I finished and that I am smiling in this photo before I tell you the tale of the Elkhart Lake Triathlon.  Otherwise, you might never consider doing a triathlon...and you might think I was never doing another triathlon...This sign really should say, "I SURVIVED the Elkhart Lake Tri!"

Swim

Getting Into Wetsuits with the Team Girls

TNT Super Hero's Ready to Swim

We swam the Sprint swim course on Friday before the race.  The water was a little choppy with waves, but I got used to it. And the lake was so clean you could actually see the bottom! On race day the water was a little calmer, so I was feeling good about the swim except that the course looked like a long way out which made me a bit nervous.  A bigger wave hit during the Sprint Triathlon and 18 sprinters had to be pulled out of the water...so, the Olympic race started 40 minutes late (read this as 40 minutes hotter).  When I finally got into the water (I was in the last age group in the water and it was a time trial start...this is important information later.)  I went for it.  As usual I had that moment where I thought "I really do not want to do this" and I had a lot of moments where I thought to myself "Am I there yet?  Where in the heck is that bouy?"  


The swim took me approximately 40 minutes.  Although the course was 1500 meters, I am pretty sure I swam more like 2000 meters because of the current cutting diagonally across the Y shaped course.  The course was not particularly well marked, and the sun and choppy water made it extremely difficult to see where we were supposed to go.  And while ordinarily these conditions might have annoyed me, I was so happy to have accomplished a long distance swim without freaking out or thinking I was going to drown the less than ideal conditions really didn't bother me.  Also, another Team member got  hit n the face with a dead fish and I was lucky enough not to come across any wildlife (dead or alive) so I chalked this up to a win!  1500 M Open Water Swim, check!

Looks like I am happy to be out of the Water!

T1
Here is where my race started to go down hill mentally.  When I got back to transition (as a side note, Transition was a seriously long way away)  I realized there were approximately 5 bikes left in transition.  I know there were people behind me in the water, but the sheer lack of bikes was unnerving.  Remember, I was one of the last groups in the water and then I proceeded to swim out of my way quite a bit, but the lack of people was unnerving.  So, I pulled of my wetsuit, pulled on my socks and bike shoes, snapped on my helmet and sunglasses grabbed my bike and headed out to the bike course.

Bike

I had been expecting to pick up some time on the bike and really enjoy myself during that piece of the race...after all, it was the run that I was not looking forward to.  I had even slept the entire night before the race uninterrupted and had biked the run course on Friday.  The Bike was going to be fun... Turns out,  I was wrong.  

I live in Indiana.  Indiana is very flat.  My definition of rolling hills, and Elkhart Lake, Wisconsin's definition of rolling hills seem to differ quite a bit.  For example, a bike course that is mostly up hill would not be considered to have rolling hills, but I digress.  

The bike was really tough.  Looking back, I think I was capable of doing reasonably well on the bike course, but the 25MPH wind really killed me.  And, I was out on the course BY MYSELF.  This was mentally challenging for me because I was unprepared for being alone on the course at all.  I think I passed two people at mile 25 on the bike course.  It was a long, miserable, slow, windy, hot ride.  28 Mile/45K Bike Ride, check!

Pictures may be worth a 1,000 words...and I may be smiling in this photo, but I assure you that my smiling was for the camera and not because I was enjoying my bike ride.  I may also be smiling because this photo was taken at the top of a hill.

T2

I was never so happy to be back in transition after the bike.  And it was at that point that I seriously started considering whether I could skip the run and dub my race an Aquathon.  I stripped off my bike shoes and helmet, pulled on my Newtons, sun visor, and race belt.  I sprayed on some extra sunscreen and headed toward the run out.  

Run

Did I mention that it was 90 degrees?  Or that the first 4 miles of the run were uphill with only about a 1/2 mile of shade on the entire run course?  By the time I made it to the run, I was seriously hating life.  I was trying to keep my mind occupied thinking of the people that I was racing for...but my mind was foggy.  Looking back, I likely didn't take in enough calories on the bike to account for the harsh conditions which is why my "run" (and I use that term loosely) was more of a walk.  But, I hoofed every step of that 10K happy or not.   There is not much else to report on the run except that I was really happy it was over.  6.2 Mile/10K run, check!

I must have seen the camera, because this photo suggests that I might have actually run during the run portion of the race.  Pictures can be deceiving.

Tiki Bar

I wish I had pictures, but I don't.  The after race margaritas and the Tiki Bar were by far my favorite part of the race.  I note that the Tiki Bar would have been more fun if I had not been so tired as to head for bed at 9:30!

Lessons Learned

Steelhead is going to be a seriously long day!


People my age are fast despite the fact that I am not.  Be prepared to be on the course alone for Steelhead.


If I get up at 4 in the morning the Friday before a Saturday race, I apparently get great sleep on Friday night.


No one signs up to do an Olympic distance or 70.3 distance triathlon and just wings it and "doesn't train."  It's too far, so there will be no stragglers...it is likely that I will be the straggler...I am ok with this if I can get my 70.3 sticker!

Triathlon Packing List...Why, Oh Why, Do I Tri??

I really enjoy the multi-sport aspect of triathloning, but every time I pack for a race and prepare for all 3 sports in a single day, I desperately wonder why on earth I signed up.  Triathloning requires a ton of gear, and if you are traveling over night to race the packing can literally take hours.  So, I've decided to blog about a packing list so that I can forever memorialize my packing list and maybe, just maybe, packing for the next one won't be so bad.

*Disclaimer, this is a packing list for a longer race which includes an overnight stay!

Pre-Race

• Body Glide, Body Glide, Body Glide
• Chamois Butter
• IBuprofen
• Trisuit
• Sunscreen
• Sport Watch and Heart Rate Monitor (Don't forget your charger)
• Safety Pin (To pin your timing chip so you don't lose it.)

Swim

• Wetsuit
• Wetsuit Lube (Depending on how tight your wetsuit is, you may need some sort of lube to get your wetsuit on and prevent wetsuit burn.)
• Goggles (Bring extra goggles!)
• Water Socks (Some races allow them, but even if your race doesn't you might want these for the pre-race practice swim if the race entry is particularly rocky or just plain gross...Geist anyone?)
• Wetsuit Sleeves (These are really not necessary, but I have a sleeveless wetsuit, so if expecting particularly cold water temperatures, these are nice because they pull on.)
• Flip Flops (I recommend wearing flip flops that you can bare to part with in case you leave them.)
• Swim Cap (For the practice swim, or you can double cap with the race cap.)

Bike

• Bike
• Helmet
• Socks
• Bike Shoes
• Biking Gloves (I don't wear them, but some people do.)
• Biking Glasses
• Bike Water Bottles (And all of the mixes, powders, fuel items that will need to along into your water bottles.  If you have an aero bottle don't forget straw(s) and gauze to keep them from splashing on you.)
• Bento Box and Fuel (Gu, Shot Blocks, Sport Beans, etc.)
• Extra Tubes
• CO2 Cartridges
• Tools
• Extra End Caps (If you lose one, they won't let you race without them.)

Run

• Running Shoes
• Hat or Visor
• Sunglasses (If different from your biking glasses.)
• Race Belt
• Bike Jacket/Rain Jacket (If there is any chance of inclement weather.)
• Water/Fuel Belt (Especially important if it is really hot.)
• ABSOLUTELY NO IPODS - Triathlons do not allow you to wear earphones!

Transition

• Transition Bag
• Extra Body Glide (You may want to lube your feet after the swim if you are prone to blisters in long distances.)
• Extra Chamois Butter (Also a good lubricant for other body parts.)
• Towel (I usually don't dry off after the swim, but you may want to wipe your face and I use a bright colored towel draped over the bike rack to help me find my bike!)
• Transition Mat or Extra Towel (I put this on the ground and arrange all of my transition items on top of it.)
• Bucket or Milk Crate (Some people like to have something to sit on to get their wetsuit off and change shoes.  The milk crate has proven useful for carrying items.)
• Bike Pump
• Extra Water or Gatorade (You might be thirsty at transition and be carrying smaller bottles on the run that you want to reserve.)
• Extra Fuel (In case you drop a Gu or your pack of Sport Beans on the bike course.)
• First Aid Items
• Extra IBuprofen
• Extra Sunscreen
• Chap stick
• Packet of Kleenex (You never know when you may appreciate having a toilet paper like item at transition or in your bike trunk.)

Additional Items

• Extra Swimsuit or Trisuit (For pre-race practice swim.)
• Extra Trisuit (For pre-race short bike and gear check.)
• Hemorrhoid Cream (I know this sounds crazy, but if you get blisters that have not popped this will dry them out over night.  It is seriously amazing.)
• Saran Wrap, Plastic Target Bags, Scissors and Packing Tape (I use this to pack my bike for transport.  See my tips for packing your bike for transport below.  Also, the scissors may come in handy if you need to trim a straw.)
• Bike Lock
• Medication
• Toothbrush and Toiletries
• Extra Fuel
• Wet wipes
• Clothes/Shoes for after the race (Remember you may be desperate to get your shoes off or or trisuit off if you are chafing.) 
• Camera

Packing Your Bike For Transport
First, I realize that most people just put their bike either in the car or on the back of the car and go.  But, when I am towing my bike for any distance, I like to protect the seat and handlebars.  First, my handle bars and seat are white, and second I don't really want a soggy seat when I arrive.  (And, yes, I realize that when I triathlon I end up with a wet but on my seat.  But there is a difference between a slightly soggy seat and a seat that has been through a torrential downpour.)  So, here is what I do to pack my bike for transport.  I remove all of my bike bags (bento box and rear trunk).   I also remove my aero pads so they don't get wet.  I then use the saran wrap to methodically wrap the bike seat and handle bars.  I would also recommend wrapping the ends of the handle bars to secure the end caps so they do not get knocked off during transport.  If you tie the saran wrap to the bike frame the saran wrap holds up pretty well to the wind.  You can secure the leftover end of the saran wrap after you are done wrapping with packing tape.  I then take the extra step of tying a grocery bag around the bike seat and handlebars for good measure.  Just remember you will want to pack your bike for transport back after the race, so you will want to bring the saran wrap and extra grocery bags (the original grocery bags likely won't survive the wind) with you.  The scissors will help you when it comes time to unwrap the bike.

I would love to learn about tips and tricks others use for triathlon packing especially if anyone else has any weird items on their list like I do.

Hopefully this is everything, if I think of anything else, I will definitely update this post!

Don't Forget to Bring Your Super Suit!

Well, May was very busy!  Here is a run down of everything I did in May!  More on recent events coming soon!

Open Water Swimming:  We started practicing open water swimming at Geist Reservoir once a week.  Gross and double gross.  If you have ever tried to swim competitively (or even athletically) in open water, you know what I mean.  You can't see two inches in front of you and you have to deal with all of the muck on the bottom of the lake.  For me, this means I need to mentally prepare for the stuff I find gross and the things that make me most fear open water swimming...snakes!  So, I decided it was time to break out my secret weapons and super powers: water socks, a wetsuit, and my Wonder Woman Swimsuit!

Yes, that would be me in the Wonder Woman Swimsuit.  And, if anyone asks, it actually DOES help me swim in open water!

Indianapolis Mini Marathon: Let's set the stage.  The Mini Marathon was hot, high 80's and 90% humidity.  I didn't train for the Mini, I had been training for a big triathlon, and April was not a good training month for me.  Couple all of this with feeling a bit emotional after losing my uncle and my mom's running coach, Tom Hathaway, the week before...it was bound to be an emotional race.  So, I walked up to the start line with pretty low expectations because (i) I was not acclimated to the heat, and (ii) I had only run up to 7 miles in preparation.  Luckily, my awesome Mom decided to run with me despite being injured.  Against all odds, the first 5 or 6 miles went pretty well.  At mile five I burst into tears when I heard a band playing "Only the Good Die Young," but I kept going.  The track is a bit of a blur to me, but this seems to be the place where my race broke down.  It was really hot, and things were starting to hurt.  Somehow we muddled through those last 7 miles (cue bursting into tears at mile 10.5 without explanation), but I swear I only made it because my mom drug me through the finish line.

Geist Half Marathon: At some point a couple months ago, I signed up for the Geist Half Marathon because I wanted to the special t-shirt for running two 1/2 marathons during the month of May (and yes, it has occurred to me that a t-shirt that I have to pay to own is not necessarily a rational reward for such behavior...but, I thrive on sense of accomplishment).  After the Mini I was seriously questioning my sanity for signing up for Geist when I wasn't training for a 1/2 marathon not to mention questioning whether I could complete Mini's very hilly cousin after hating every minute of the Mini.  But, I had a few friends who were doing Geist so I gave it the old college try.  It was hilly, and it was hot...and yet somehow I PR'd by 8 minutes!  I ran really well (and really fast for me) right up until miles 8 and 9 when the course turns into one huge hill.  The funny thing is I didn't realize how fast I was racing until I reached mile 10.5.  You see, I  had been running with a woman I met in the race who saw my TNT purple and we sort of started running together.  Both of us were struggling with injuries, so when she needed to walk, I was happy to take a break with her.  I only mention this, because it goes to illustrate how profound my PR was.  Had I had any inclination that I was capable of a faster time, I am sure I would have pushed harder during those 3.5 miles.  I think at mile 10.5 I said something like, "you know, if I hurry, I can PR??" and I took off for the finish line.   I was so proud at the finish line despite the salt stuck to my face (this was my first experience with the dried salt by the way...made me feel like a real athlete)!  The most important thing I learned from Geist was to have confidence in my training.  I am finally starting to feel good about the time and hard work I have put in.

TNT Fashionistas Before the Geist

TNT Fashionista's After Geist