The sun still hadn’t crawled over the horizon when the alarm rang at 5:30am. We woke up and of course, the mental “to do” list began churning. Stick number on helmet, remember toilet paper, put spare tube on bike, breathe, put chip on ankle, coffee or no coffee? My gels have caffeine, what’s the swim going to be like? How is the nerve in my jaw? These are the regular morning of race thoughts. My heart rate was probably at a stead 80bpm and it wasn’t 6:00am yet.
We made our way to the race site and the promotional tents were being set up. People were making their way into the transition area and preparation took form. I had my bag of items I would need, and items I might need for the day. This is what my typical triathlon set up goes like.
Socks go inside bike shoes (I still don’t keep my shoes clipped in for transition) and helmet goes on shoes. Sunglasses go in helmet with bike gloves. Running shoes are placed behind bike shoes with race number on belt. Gel is placed in shoes. This time, I raced with shorts and a shirt, so I also had to place the shirt on my shoes as well. Gel is taped to bike, water is filled, bike is put into proper gear and tired are inflated.
Forgotten item: small towel to dry/clean my feet
Solution: I used my pants instead
Items to keep out: Wetsuit, goggles and swim cap
Race start was 9:22 so I spent the next hour or so talking, reminding myself to breathe and taking some fun pictures of athletes preparing for the race. Taking pictures allowed me to chill, and not focus on my swelling nerves.
At 9:00 (on the dot), the juvenile race started and the energy soared. Young athletes were out giving it their all, and we were waiting to become part of the action. Shortly after, groups of athletes were signalled by the triathlon, each of us beginning our respective race; 1500m swim, 40km bike and 10km run; the standard Olympic distance triathlon.
I am sure that by 9:15 my heart rate was thumping at a steady 120bpm. I gave a wave to Ricardo and assured him with a thumbs-up, that I was good to go. I think I even convinced myself for a micro-second that I was totally cool. Excitement, anticipation were competing against fear and anxiety; a battle field inside my chest where victory would be crowned to the emotion last standing.
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| Totally masking my fear. I think I might consider trying out for a play this year. |
At about 9:20 the girls were motioned to enter the water and with a splash, I was in. The horn.
100m – 300m: I am ok, I am ok. Keep swimming. She looks to be about your pace. Try to draft. I don’t like drafting. Don’t draft. Find space. Stop thinking and glide. Stretch your arm. Don’t stretch your arm, your shoulder is weak. Am I going off course? I am. Where is the group. Where is the buoy. I am getting tired already. Am I tired. I am breathing heavy. Thump, thump, thump.
300m – 500m: Oh shit! The swell is coming. Don’t focus on it, don’t focus on it. What you focus on grows, Diane. What’s the worst thing that could happen? I stop and call for help. Someone comes to rescue me. Hey, I see people ahead of me. Glide Diane.
Stage directions: Tidal wave enters stage and knocks Diane off her feet. She us upside down and unable to gain control. She tosses and turns and doesn’t know what way is up or down.
What you focus on grows. Stop focusing on this swell and swim, Diane. Glide!
Stage directions: Tidal wave leaves. Sun appears.
With that, the swim became the swim, and only that. No drama, no fear, no inventing a horror story, no panic. A few gulps of water here and there, the odd person swimming on to my feet, the typical me swimming far to the left of the course, but a finish; a solid swim, and in my best 1500m time; a whopping 33:42.
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| Q: Is that a laugh line, and why do my goggles leave a mark for such a long time? A: 35-39 |
Swim pictures: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.333534926696754.86701.258866570830257&type=3&l=6b04ecfa7f
Transition 1 (T1): 3:01 = one word; ridiculous
I ran to the bike mount line and hopped on. I had heard that the roads were “bad” on the course and that I would have to take care. I also knew that there were hills, so I set a lofty goal of finishing my bike in 1:15. I rode aggressively, flying down the hills without breaking for speed bumps and happily pumping lactic acid into my quads on the climb. I didn’t get passed, not by girls and not by guys. This, I like. There was one girl that I passed on the first loop (I though her name was Gina) and we rode together for a bit. On the second loop however, I let Gina go as I hunted riders from behind, pegging them one by one. I loved hearing “Go Keaton!” as Ricardo snapped pictures of not only me, but of every rider that whizzed on by.
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| Something about the clothesline in the background that I just love. |
Bike pictures: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.333928059990774.86795.258866570830257&type=3&l=a286ba2014
Bike time: 1:13:25
Transition 2 (T2): 2:23.
There is a restaurant in Brazil called Cervantes. You could order and steak, pineapple and cheese sandwich there, and they will take the order, make the sandwich on a toasted bun, serve you with spicy mustard, smile, take your money and give you change in less time that it took me to get off my bike and put on my running shoes. Not to mention, the sandwich is AMAZING.
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| Vegetarian wouldn't be vegetarians if they knew about this. |
By the time I started running, the sun was out in full force. I was feeling ok, but just ok. During the run, I usually lose some time, and this is where I normally get passed. Here in Mexico I have had a hard time adjusting to the altitude. I can’t seem to run my pace, but slowing down allows me to avoid the dreaded runners stitch. The run organizers did a great job of providing lots of water and Gatorade along the course. The volunteers (mainly kids) were so great with holding out bags of water, many yelling “Water for your face! Water on your head? Water?” With that, people lined the 5km loop cheering us on. One girl passed me with a "Q" on her leg. "Q" is my category, and I am embracing my second year in age group 35-39. Her pace was just a bit too fast for me (or was it?) to keep up with, so I let her go on, and I resorted to opening a package of Gu Chews that I had gripped in my hand. When I chopped trough about 8 or so, I offered them to the dude who was slushing his feet hot at my heals. “Quieres?” I asked. He accepted them graciously and I felt good having shared. The second loop was a lot better than the first as I knew what to expect in terms of hills. One climb on the out, descent on the back. This meant I got to finish the race with a down hill.
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| I don't carry peanuts on my run. In hand - Gu chews. |
Run time: 55:06
Run pictures:
Finisher shots:
Race time: 2:47:37 Category: 5/19 Female: 13/63 Overall: 154/407
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| I don't race to win, I race to maintain a steady chocolate intake. Today I earned 300g of Cadburys mini-eggs. |
This isn’t a PB for my Olympic race, but it was my favourite Olympic race so far. I have come a long way since I got pulled out of the water by the rescue boat in Colombia; and 35-39 is young yet.
Race highlights
- Fastest 1500m swim
- Fastest 40km bike
- Corona and little pools to sit in at the finish line
- Down hills thinking “I can’t believe I haven’t flatted … these roads are brutal!” But not easing up
- The cheering on of spectators
- Bagged water
- Late start time so HOT run
- I forgot to lock my port-o-let (a few people may have seen a flash … and by “may have” I mean “definitely, positively" saw a full frontal)
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| This remains, my favorite outfit of all time! |
I will most definitely do this race again.
Swim.Bike.Run.Peace
D.
Good Job Keaton!
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