Weekend Update #2- Conway CATS Race Report

Choose the correct answer:
1. If you don't have any expectations you may do well.
2. Lining up front and pretending you're a good swimmer is a good race tactic.
3. Eating wedding cake for dinner and watching softball till midnight the night before a race is a good way to prepare.
4. Starbucks skinny vanilla latte, Taco Bell mexican pizza with no meat, and a fudge round are appropriate post-race foods to replace the minimal calories you expended in a sprint triathlon

I made a last minute decision, as in 2.5 days before the race, to enter a sprint in Arkansas. I figured since I would already be in Arkansas, I might at well fit this in too. I did CATS in 2006 and really enjoyed it. (I must be regressing as a triathlete because I am seeking out the races I did when I first started). I looked at the clock and online registration was supposed to be closed, but somehow it let me register anyways. It was meant to be, I guess :)

I went to the race all by my lonesome, which was weird. I didn't even know anyone there. So, I made one goal, and only one goal for the race. MAKE ONE FRIEND. I didn't even have a performance goal. Well, maybe it was just to enjoy the day.

I have battled with the decision to enter races. This was my second triathlon of the year, but with my injury, I really have to question if it is smart and what I am getting out of it. I have decided that doing 3-4 small races with runs no longer than 3 miles this year will be fine. It will limit the damage physically and give me the opportunity to participate in triathlon without sitting out a whole year. I don't really care that I can't improve or become a better triathlete this year, I just want to participate.

So, here we go. I hardly got a warm up in, as usual. 10 minutes on the bike, which is way better than the 0 minutes I got 3 weeks ago. 1 minute on the run to make sure the shoes were okay, and I really didn't want to do anymore running than I needed to. About 50 yards of swimming to make sure the goggles were okay. And then it was time to line up.

SWIM: The announcer made it very clear that it was NOT a good idea to line up front and center if you are not a good swimmer. He said this about 5 times before my wave went. I don't know what came over me, but I did something I NEVER do. I went straight to the front and center instead of my normal 3 rows back. Yup-right smack front and center like I owned it.

The swim was wetsuit legal- 500 yards in Beaverfork Lake. I was totally aggressive from the start. I just swam hard and found feet in the first 100 yards. I drafted for a bit and by the first buoy I was hitting her feet a ton- and felt terrible about it. How annoying must that be? I pulled to her side after the buoy and was on my own from there. I was swimming hard and looking up to find red caps to see if I could catch up to women, but I didn't see any. I saw tons of men around, but no red caps. Great, I thought. I got stuck in the middle group again-the fast women are so far ahead I don't even see them.

HELL FROZE OVER: because I think I came out of the water 2nd female. No, I haven't learned how to swim. I either pulled something really great out of my you know what, or no one in this field could swim either.

T1: I ran really hard up the hill to the transition area, but otherwise it was uneventful. Total hustle.

Bike: When I warmed up, it seemed there was a headwind going out. But, as I started the race, I didn't really feel anything. I was passing tons of guys and enjoying their cheers as I rode past. Seriously, this race was so friendly. All of the guys gave me tons of compliments and kept encouraging me to ride harder. When I got close to the turnaround, I saw the girl in first place coming back. I had it in my mind to catch her, but I never did. I had a faster bike split, but just barely, and it wasn't enough to catch her. I think I had a pretty good bike, but I did notice that there was a period or two where I slowed down just from lack of focus.

T2: uneventful again, but it was cool to see only 1 other bike in the female section. I really do like triathlons where everyone starts together instead of TT starts.

Run: Well, I had the same attitude that I did a couple of weeks ago. I am now able to run about 4 miles TOTAL a week at snail's pace just to see how the knee is doing. Still NO RUN TRAINING. So, I just told myself-seriously I said this in my head: "be prepared to be passed, and make it your job to cheer those ladies on. Walk if there is true knee pain" This run was advertised as a 3+ mile run, at least that is what they said at the beginning of the race. I haven't run 3 miles since March 15, so I just knew this would suck.

For those of you who have done CATS in the past, the run course has changed dramatically. The first half mile or so is cross country style- which is fun, but hard. Spectators were yelling at me that the 1st place girl was just a little ways up and telling me I could catch her. I just smiled- little did they know I COULD NOT catch her, but thanks for having such faith in me! During the first mile I was already feeling my most out of shape ever. My knee was bothering me, but was not painful. I felt like I had thunder thighs- which I do from not running. I didn't feel smooth- didn't feel like a runner- and felt incredibly out of shape. I was wondering how my cellulite looked as I was running. Seriously. I felt like an elephant plodding along.

We moved to the road with some hills. There were not any mile markers posted, and I hate that. But, I saw a mile marker on the asphalt, and I hoped that it was accurate. As I neared the turnaround which seemed to be around 1.5 miles, I saw the first place girl. I mean girl, too, as she was 17 and apparently on the junior national team- as she deserves to be because she was running SOOOOOO smooth and fast. And she is 17- no cellulite, no thunder thighs.

So whatever, I am trying to cheer people on, but I am so out of shape I can't really talk. No waving to the camera for me like I used to do. I get around the turnaround and see about 4 girls behind me. So, I know I am getting ready to be passed on the way back. A mile later and I have not been passed. WTF??? We hit the cross country section again and I keep turning around looking to see when I am going to get passed. I NEVER turn around in a race- it is a sign of fear. Well, I didn't care because I knew I was dying- and I am sure everyone else could tell too so I kept looking over my shoulder anyways.

So, I am dying and so happy the run is over. I get to the transition area- and I am sure that I have run over 3 miles, but OH NO- the run doesn't stop. They send us around transition, another quarter + mile around this field cross country style, and then back around to the finish. The whole time I am swearing not to race again until I can actually run in training. I am always bargaining at the end.

I manage to finish 2nd OA female. The girls never did catch me on the run, so I guess I faked them out at the turn around and I looked like I was cruising. If they had only known...

And then I still hadn't met my goal for the race of making a friend. So, I introduced myself to one of the ladies that I saw at the turnaround that was running so well. She came in 4th place, and I recognized her name from other races. She was so nice and I was glad I made an effort to meet someone new. We talked for a while and it helped me to not feel so lonely at the race.

Then I drove home and got all of those post- race goodies. I guess I momentarily forgot how fat I felt during the race.

Anyhoo- it is just status quo here. I will continue to rest my knee with 1-2 runs during the week for only 1-2 miles just to see where I am. I am doing all of my PT exercises in my attempt to avoid surgery, because that is the next step.

This weekend I am going to relay Dragon Fly and be the weak link as the swimmer. What has come over me? Since when did I volunteer to swim? And I promise no more racing until Mighty Mite. My goal is to try to be pain free by Mighty Mite. Maybe pain free with a little less thunder on my thighs.