I didn’t realize it until the morning of the race, but this Danskin Triathlon marks the second anniversary of my triathlon endeavors. Sure, I have been running for about 15 years, and I picked up cycling and swimming during college and grad school, but it wasn’t until I completed the 2008 Danskin Triathlon that I could actually call myself a triathlete. So here’s a special (and long, and unusually sentimental) race report for a race that is very special in my heart.
Pre-Race
First of all, my goals. M asked me last week what were my goals for this race. I wanted to do better than last year on the same course. Last year I did Trek instead of Danskin, but who cares… same tri, different name… Anyway, for Trek I did 1:57:08, and I was hung over and sleep deprived (it was my birthday weekend). So I thought: 30 minutes on the swim, 45 for the ride and 30 for the run, spend five in transition and I should be able to PR with about an hour and fifty minutes.
The morning of the race I woke up at four in order to take a shower, wake up M for him to take his shower, and get everything ready and in the car by five. Everything went according to plan and I was actually able to get all my tri stuff ready before M could get all his camera stuff ready, so I took a minute to check my emails and update my Facebook. As I was changing my status to “Vanessa is doing the Danskin Triathlon today” I remembered that this was the first tri I ever registered for… it was back on 2008 and I had just moved to Austin after completing grad school. And that’s when it hit me, I am a triathlete, and I became one two years ago, doing this very same race at the very same site. Suddenly a different kind of excitement overwhelmed me. “This officially marks two years triing!!”, I added to my status.
Once we were both ready, M and I drove down to Decker Lake; he had already warned me that he had to leave right after I crossed the finish line, so we went in separate cars. After we parked I left him in the extra long spectator’s line and went to the participant’s line. I stepped in and there was this lady in front of me; we started talking because we are both Hispanics and just can’t help talking to perfect strangers. She was a little nervous because this was her fist triathlon and she wasn’t sure she would have time to set transition, I assured her that everything would be fine and that she would have a great race. She also told me she was from El Paso; she and two other friends –the Rio Trio –had traveled to Austin for their fist race. How cool… I don’t have friends who go with me and do races, I thought. We were already on the bus and had been talking for a while when we finally asked each other our names. “Rocio”, she said. “Ahhh, like my middle name”, I responded, “Vanessa Rocio”. On the way out of the bus she had to run to the porter-potty, so we wished each other good luck and I didn’t see her after.
I set up my transition area pretty quickly and headed out for a bathroom break. I was already making the line when I realized, crap!, I left my timing chip back in transition… better head back and get it before they close. Well, I went back to transition, got the chip, back to the bathroom line, in-and-out, and now I had to look for M. Because I left my cell phone at home by mistake, I had no way of calling him and asking him where he was, so I walked around to find him… and I walked… and I walked. I was about to give up when finally, like ten minutes past seven, I see him walking in. Turns out the extra long spectator's line had not moved at all until the last athlete was in, oh well. M did some picture taking and then we moved to the swim finish to see the fist women come out of the water. I wasn’t there for too long because I wanted to go to the start line and get ready for my 7:41 wave, but I was there enough time to see Coach Jen get out of the water and fly to transition. “She' looks badass”, I told M, and he laughed, I’m not sure why, because it wasn’t a joke. Well anyway, we quickly went to the start so I could blend in with the other orange headed women.
The Swim
Once my wave was called into the water, I went in and was happy to see familiar TriZone faces acting as swim angels and high-fivers. how cool is that, I thought. My wave started and after the first few meters of complete chaos I found my pace, as always trying to remember all the swimming advice from Coach Jen and Tracy. I felt pretty good on the swim, I even found some good feet to drag from. Well… not that good, because at some point the girl I was dragging from decided to switch to breast stroke and kicked me so hard she almost knocked my chronometer of my wrist. After that I was more aware of the possible kicking, I didn’t want my goggles to be the next target.
I got out of the water and the watch was marking twenty-two minutes and some change. It must be wrong I thought; maybe when that girl kicked me she hit the stop button. I double checked and no, it had not stopped, that was the right time… maybe the course was marked wrong and it wasn’t really 800m. Either way, I’ll happily take it.
I went in and out of transition and the watch was now at almost twenty five minutes. I did quick calculation in my head and decided I should be back by one hour ten to keep with the plan.
The Ride
I actually liked the loop around Decker Lake, even with the hills. Except for that evil one also known as Little Tard. I hate that hill, with passion; I wouldn't hate it so much if it didn’t come immediately after that sharp right turn. You see, I don’t know how to turn, so I basically have to slow down until I almost stop whenever there is a sharp turn. Mr. Little Tard apparently knows this, because it hides there right after the turn so I have to go up the hill with absolutely no momentum. For me it’s a pure muscle hill… and I’m a weak person. Well, I was able to get it done without getting out of my bike (at 3 miles per hour, but who cares), after that it was mostly joyful. I saw some other TriZoners and cheered them. Before I knew it it was time for Big Tard which for me is not as bad as the first one because I can use the speed from the down hill. It was around there where I saw Shayla along with other runners cheering us bikers. How can they do that? I’m here almost dying and they are cheering really loud, my respects to all of them for that.
I finished the ride, went into transition, left the bike, changed the shoes and, yes!, not yet one hour ten. Looks like I’m going to be able to walk the run :)
The Run
I got into the run and it wasn’t yet one hour ten. I did another quick calculation and decided that I had forty-five minutes to finish the three mile run and still PR, that’s fifteen minute miles. I can do that.
I ran the first nine minutes and was walking the next one when this girl comes from behind me and starts saying: “No, no, no. You passed me already, you can’t just start walking, you need to keep running.” I told her that I had a run-walk-run strategy. Once the walking minute was gone I started running again, and, again, I passed her, this time I noticed her number: 1264. I did nine more minutes of running and I was ready to walk when the guy with the trumpet at the corner of Mr. Big Tard started playing Eye of the Tiger. Hmm, I couldn’t be that far from that hill, so I decided to keep running for a little longer because I knew I was going to walk the last uphill. Well, I made it to the bottom of the hill and I started walking; the only thing I could think of was number 1264. I was hoping she didn’t catch me… maybe I should run a little longer while it’s still flat. I did that until I got to the hill. I must have been halfway to the top of the hill when I heard the girl again. “You can’t be walking, we’re almost there. Come on!!” Ok, ok, I’ll run, but only because you are really motivating, and how come you are so energetic anyway?, we’re running uphill! So I ran with her for the rest of the race. We were almost at the finish line when I saw the TriZones cowbelling team. It was so nice and cool to see people that I’ve been training with for the past year or so there cheering me. At the last few meters 1264 sprinted to the finish line and I didn’t; she ended up beating me by a few seconds.
Right there at the finish line I found M. As always, he had his camera ready for a finisher’s pic. After I got my water and my medal I walked around to meet him. I looked at the watch 1:43:09!!! I’m was excited, that’s a huge improvement. I told him about 1264 and how she carried me through the last leg of the race. He asked me if I passed her at the end. No, I confessed; to be perfectly honest, I couldn’t, I was dead tired already, but even if I could, I think she deserved to finish first, after all, if it wasn’t for her I would have probably be walking the hill still ;)
Post-Race
I usually leave soon after I finish, but since I had my own car this time I decided to stay for a while and join the cowbelling team. I did some cheering to cool down (I didn’t know but it is a great way to cool down after a race) and then went to the TZ tent to mingle with the rest of the team. At some point while I was there I saw Coach Gina and she asked me about my race and what was my favorite part. The swim, hands down; I still thought the course was not 800m, but I’ll take my 22 minutes all the same, I told her. Also while at the tent I put my name on the massage list.
I was ready to leave already, but I was waiting for my massage turn when they called for the group pictures. How nice, team pictures, this means I’m part of the team :). I did some more cheering and then my turn was up for the massage. Once I was done with the massage I was really ready to leave, and I noticed most people had done so already; everyone but the TriZones team. They were still cheering for every woman who approached the finish line. I decided to stay after all, and it was one of the best, and most humbling experiences I’ve had. And so I cheered with the team, my team, until the last woman crossed the finish line. After everyone was done and I was finally saying my goodbyes I approached Coach Gina again, I had changed my mind, this, cheering as a team until the last participant had crossed the finish line, was my favorite part of the race.
What an amazing group of people is the TriZones family. I thought about Rocio as I went through the rest of my post-race day; how cool it was that she and her friends traveled together so they could do their first race together. Well, I do have friends who go with me, cheer me, encourage me and challenge me while I do races: I have M and I have the TriZones team.
Statistics
And, since this race marks the two year anniversary of becoming a triathlete, here are some statistics to show my progress over these two years:
| Danskin ‘08 | Trek ‘09 | Danskin ‘10 | |
| Overall Time | 2:07:02 | 1:57:08 | 1:43:09 |
| Overall Rank | 1383/2453 | 201/433 | 355/1573 |
| Age Group Rank | 164/289 | 33/48 | 49/131 |
| Swim | 34:41 | 29:58 | 22:21 |
| T1 | 5:32 | 4:17 | 2:26 |
| Bike | 50:16 | 48:18 | 44:08 |
| T2 | 3:36 | 3:09 | 1:18 |
| Run | 32:55 | 31:25 | 32:54 |
Final Remarks
These two years of racing have been awesome. I’ve pushed myself to do things I never thought I could do. I’ve finished races that go from the super sprint to the half-Ironman distance and I’m getting ready to attempt the full distance.
I would have not been able to make this if it was not with the support of a lot of people that have helped me along the way. My parents, specially my dad, who taught me the joy of running and racing. M, who wakes up early for every race and is my number one fan. My friends, who leave nice wish-you-luck messages in my Facebook wall every time I have a race. The TriZones team and their coaches, who have taught me how to train and have encouraged me to do better countless Tuesday nights and have cheered me and cowbelled for me along the course of last year. And also perfect strangers like Rocio and number 1264, whose real name is Gabrielle Groom, who have shared with me the joys and pains of being a triathlete. To all of you, thank you!
No comments:
Post a Comment