Race Time... or should I say, Play Time

I have been in a racing funk for a few months now.  The results don't reflect it, lucky for me, but the passion in training has just not been there.  I think this year I have been coming down off the high of last year's 1/2 Ironman, in Augusta, GA.  I had such a big goal, not only to complete the race, but in doing it I was raising money and dedicating the race to my daughter.  Each workout and race leading up to the big day had a greater purpose than just my own self-centered/driven goals.

I have battled one nagging injury after another this season.  I knew it was coming (perhaps a self-fulfilling prophesy of sorts).  Training at such intensity and no downtime was taking its toll -life as a mom doesn't stop when you walk in the door after a 4 hour workout in 90 degrees of Georgia heat week after week.  Last year my husband worked from home so I could dodge out for workouts while Hayden napped in the afternoon or get a good workout in the morning prior to his heading down to the basement office to start his work day.  This year, his new job is much more intense and he travels a couple of days each week.  Finding time for me to stretch, do yoga, see a massage therapist, chiropractor or doctor has been nearly impossible to fit into the already tight schedule of each day.

I think the combination of not feeling a "greater purpose" behind my training and the nagging injuries has been really hard on my perspective toward the sport.  Many days I have been waking up asking myself why I am doing this.  How much simplier life would be if I gave up on the sport and was just a mom who takes aerobics classes at the gym (and benefits from the use of their childcare for babysitting, that is, if the sitters and other children at the gym could feel comfortable with Hayden cruizing around getting into everything) rather than plan out on a calender weeks in advance trying to figure out how and when I was going to get a combination of 2-3 swims, bikes, and runs each every week during the kids summer vacation from school.

In most tri's, I don't wear this cheesy grin before the start... there must be something different about this race!

Fortunately, a few weeks ago, a fun-loving, adventurous friend, Christi Evans, mentioned that she was going to do an XTerra triathlon and begged me to do it with her.  When I mentioned it to David, he said "let's do it" without hesitation.  I have always wanted to try an XTerra race - on my bucket list! - because of my love affair with trails, but was a bit nervous about the bike portion, having only ridden my mountain bike a handful of times over the past couple of years.  My poor beat-up Litespeed hardtail, I feared, would be laughed at hanging on the bike rack in transition.  Not only that, I was worried how handicapped I would be compared to racers on full suspension bikes with 29 inch wheels - the newest latest fad in mountain biking.

Race morning came very early, with the alarm going off at 3:45am, just when my over excited, anticipatory mind was finally giving in to sleep.  By 4:05 we were on the road, heading East over to Clemson, South Carolina.  After a quick potty break at the South Carolina Welcome Center, we pulled into the park at Lake Isqueena, noting the rolling terrain- I guess South Carolina isn't all pancake flat like it is at the beach on the coast.  Christi, and her sherpa for the day, Todd Atkins, pulled in right behind us.  They walked us through checking in and getting set up in transition.  Instantly, I could feel that this was going to be my kind of race scene.  We could hang our bikes on any rack, no chips for timing, and no stressed out lack of eye-contact athletes focused on pre-race warm-ups.

Christi Evans, (me) and my sweet husband, Dave, setting up in transition

Christi headed out for a quick warm-up bike ride so Dave and I ventured down to the water for a swim.  I knew I needed to get in the water to calm the impending panic attack that happens at the start of almost every tri I attempt.  Surprisingly, the water temperature was perfect and the distance between the course buoys looked attainable.  I felt happy during the warm up swim, a true first.  As we exited the water, our ears perked up for the pre-race announcements.  Did I have water in my ears or just hear that it was going to be a mass start?  No separate waves?  We were going to have to start with the men?  Gulp, my heart rate just increased a good 100 beats/min.

Arms, legs, mosh pit

We stepped gingerly back towards the water along the gravel road - not pleasant on whimpy, soft skinned, city-fied bare feet.  One final wave to Todd on shore and the gun went off.  The next couple of minutes was a blur of arms, legs and splashing.  I found myself having to take a breath every other stroke, not in full panic mode, but unable to get a rhythm.  After about 300 yds, the field stretched out and I found my space, finally able to bilaterally breathe and settle into a swim.  Low and behold, when I took a breath to the right, I noticed that Dave was swimming along my side.  My first thought was "yay, he made it out of the mosh-pit".  My second thought, part of the competitive spirit he and I share, was "wait a minute, if he is matching me stroke for stroke, I am not swimming strong enough."  I have been swimming consistantly the entire Spring season, while Dave has only been in the lake twice since last August.  After we rounded the first buoy and I got a jab in the goggles by a random foot, 1/2 filling one side with water, I stepped it up into a smooth pull.  I rounded the next buoy and saw the shore exit ahead.  I was sighting too high and taking too long, but I was happy.  I noted that I could not spot many pink swim caps in front of me (women wore pink, men in yellow and the relays in green).  Hey, this swim is fun - don't tell! 

As I scampered out of the water, I slowed to make my way down the gravel road to transition, not wanting to cut my foot and ruin my bike or upcoming sockless run.  Another girl blew by me, but I realized she was yelling to her teammate ahead.  -whew, just a relay.  As I put on my bike shoes, I remembered that I was wearing my super-cool new Garmin 910xt and had set it to "multisport" function, so I pushed the lap button to record my swim (and 1/2 of transition) time.  Hopped on the bike, pushed the lap button again, and I was off for leg #2.  The bike leg took a sharp right out of transition and gradually climbed a gravel road.  I set in comfortably (lesson to be learned) in the middle chain ring and climbed til we turned onto a newly created single track trail.  I quickly discovered I entered the trail just behind another girl (not that girls can't ride mountain bikes).  She was slow, incredibly slow and noticeably uncomfortable taking the switchback turns on the newly carved out trails.  At first I was antsy, wishing there were some way I could pass, but then I remembered what once of the course designers I ran into before the race told me about the race.  There was going to be 3 creek crossings ahead, all with climbs just after.  He also described the run as being "billy goat" style, tough climbs and drops on narrow single-track, including a stair climb.  I might as well just sit back and relax until I could pass for fear of what could lie ahead.

Finally, after about 2 miles, we emerged onto a forest service road and the guys following me and I jumped ahead of the newbie girl, plus passed 2 additional chicks before hopping back into the single-track woods again.  As we approached the first creek crossing, the rider in front of me jumped off his bike before crossing, so rather than getting tangled in passing and paying for it in the uphill, I followed.  The climb on foot wasn't tough and I squeezed past the only other girl I saw on course before getting back in the saddle and continuing.  She too commented on saving her legs for the run and the stairs.  They must really know something about what lay ahead.

Playing follow the leader with Dave

Soon after, I heard Dave's voice behind me, just before I clipped my back wheel on a fallen tree and came to an abrupt stop (of course, only when he is around).  I jumped back on and followed on his tail the rest of the ride.  Talk about a fun date!  I knew whatever pace he set, I could hang.  I pulled up along side him around mile 8 on another dirt road path and shared a couple of Power Bar "gummies" with him - ahhh, so romantic!  We pulled into transition together, slipped on our running shoes (and remembered late again to push my lap button on the watch... technology... so not me), and were off for a quick little 4 mile run to the finish.

I picked up the foot trail in the woods, and found the highly talked about "stairs".  They were a series of old stone steps built into the hill.  I opted to run up along side of them rather than changing my stride to take them one at a time. Easy.  The course weaved back around the lake, dropping out on the shoreline for about a 1/2 mile - truly my least favorite part of the course.  My feet were slipping in my shoes because of the angle of the bank and in passing 2 guys, I stepped down into muckier ground.  Talk about an energy zapper.  When the course turned back again uphill to the trail, I think my feet were skipping with glee.  I loved being the "billy goat" on the trails.  This was short and fun.  Never seeing any other females out there, I had no idea if I was leading overall or distantly behind.  At that moment, it didn't matter.  I was having fun playing on the trails.  My watch told me that I had about 1.5 miles left after we passed the second water stop and I knew I could make it to the finish without hydration, but a cute little energetic boy was handing out water with his dad so I had to take some and thank him.  A rule of mine:  if I ever see kids working a water station I will always take water, even if I don't need it.  Their enthusiasm gives me a little boost of energy every time!

Final stretch to the finish

I could hear music and the announcer up ahead so I knew the finish was coming, but given my Garmin watch reading, I assumed there must be an extra loop hidden in the woods before the finish line.  Either the Garmin or the course distance was wrong because as soon as I popped out of the woods, I only had about 50m of grass to cross and then the finish.  So much for leaving it all out there.  The race was over too soon, I wasn't done playing.

It was an odd feeling crossing the finish line.  I was overjoyed with how much fun the race was, but bummed that I didn't feel completely spent.  Crazy, driven athlete that I am...  I learned later that 3 women crossed in front of me who I wouldn't have caught even if I did push it hard on the run (my run split was the fastest female time by over a minute and 4th fastest for the day including the men on the course).  They all 3 were out of the water minutes before me and quickly sped off on the bikes before the trails got clustered.  Smart move.  Next time I will remember...

1st age group, 4th overall female

I was completely inspired by the women who came in ahead of me, one is an Australian who now lives and trains in Ashville, another is a mother of 4 from Charlotte who is doing an Xterra or 1/2 or Full Ironman almost every other weekend this year- and I thought my schedule was hectic!  Both women were in the 40-45 age group.  The men's Overall winner's were 45-49.  I love knowing that with age, you can get faster and keep growing in the sport!

As Dave and I drove home, we talked continuously about the race.  I found myself breaking down with scrutiny each detail, trying to point out weaknesses and what I could learn, while at the same time, patting myself on the back for the type of hill training and workouts I put myself through back home and when we travel to the mountains for weekends.  I hadn't felt this kind of excitement towards a race and the desire to get back out there and train in a long time.  The endorphins were back!  How I have missed them.

I fell in love with the Xterra mentality and realized in that sport, people don't care how fancy your bike, wheels, or components are, who you are sponsored by, what your PR's are and how many Iron distance triathlons you have under your belt.  The competitors are all out there, taking in the day, the scenery, and having a blast playing in the woods with a couple hundred of their closest friends!  Ahhhh... people like me.  Thanks Christi and Todd, for the introduction.

Christi, Todd, (me), and David

Can't wait for the next road trip and playdate on the trails, Xterra style.