Training to Tri: Row Ride Run - Race Report Part 1

Last Saturday was gorgeous, a perfect Spring day, sunny and not too windy. So, all in all, a pretty good day to get my first triathlon under my belt. Fingers crossed my luck continues for the rest of the season!

The morning of was pretty uneventful. I had eaten something the prior night that upset my stomach, but a solid breakfast of protein and snack bars put things at ease. I even managed to wake up before my alarm clock went off at 6 AM.

Laying out the gear

We got to the lake just as they opened registration, so I got to be race bib #2. I know, be jealous. There are some disadvantages to small events, I quickly learned, things like no maps and a distinct lack of concern over basic things like how to get your gear to T2. Still, I got things sorted and Larry helped me move the kayak down to the water. That was where I had my first moment of trepidation. See, I knew I wasn't exactly bringing a "racing" kayak, but I figured since people were renting from the school lots of folks would be in the same boat (ha ha). Sadly, Current Designs is apparently a local company. So, while I was paddling something like this:

Short and fat, like me!

The other folks were using something a bit more like this...

Long, sleek...and way faster

So yeah. That was gonna be interesting.

I got my shoes to T2, learning along the way that this was the first nice day for this event EVER. So, note to self for next year. Also, I learned the trail run had been scuttled due to wet conditions, and were were going to do a road course instead that was...nebulous. No one seemed very clear on where or what it was going to be like, and due to the aforementioned lack of maps from the organizers, it seemed I was going to remain in the dark.

Back at the lake, they finally called everyone over and got things rolling. It was a wet start, so everyone piled into their canoes and kayaks and lined up. Or rather, tried to line up. Mostly it ended up being a crazy mash-up of boats as the wind pushed people into each other. As we waited, the line kept moving further and further forward and racers started calling for them to loose the hounds. The siren sounded, and then CHAOS.

Imagine, if you will, having been told just moments before that the water was so cold that you would certainly die if you were to tip over. Then, put yourself in the midst of a bunch of flailing paddles and wildly careening canoes and kayaks barely under the control of the questionable skills of those piloting them. Thank god for short and fat, 'cause that bad boy isn't tipping for nothing. I eventually got spat out the back of the scrum, and proceeded to paddle along at my own, more sedate, pace.

A valid strategy for this race appears to be sitting in the front of a canoe and letting your buddy motor you to T1

I'll be honest, I had kinda thought I could mail in the "row" leg. Man, was I wrong. I was MUCH slower than the majority of the pack and since I hadn't paddled in months, I just kept getting slower. By the time we made the turn, my arms were killing me. This is where I had my first experience with what I will call "Endurance Rishy Mode". I'm out on this lake, the wind has just picked up and I'm dying. And my brain, which so often plays the role of doubter, pipes up and says: "We got this." Just like that, calm, no panic, no thoughts of being outclassed or any of those thoughts that so often come to me on training and group rides. That, I have to say, was pretty damn cool.

Well, "we got this" didn't make me faster. I do, however, have photographic evidence that I was not, in fact, last out of the water.