I was able to put my fears aside and replace my nerves with excitement thanks to a wonderful quote from a triathlon book that Jamie gave me for my birthday:
"You're out here to have fun and finish the race; you're not here to beat someone or see how fast you can go. Save that for your second triathlon. Look around and enjoy the experience today."
I truly did enjoy every second of the race (...yes even the horrible few minutes when my legs felt like bricks after the bike to run transition). In fact, the entire triathlon experience started a day earlier when I picked up my race kit and got my first view of the course and the transition zone. I could feel the adrenaline pumping as I walked around the grounds of Carleton University and imagined the hundreds of people who would be there the next day.
After picking up my race kit, I attended an orientation session for first timers and I am so glad I did! We had a chance to see the pool, the transition zone, and get a better idea of how the day would work from the President of Ottawa's Triathlon Club. We started at the pool and I could not stop smiling when I saw it. It had been years since my last swim race and I think that it wasn't until I looked down at that 50m pool that I realized how much I loved to compete or how great it has been to have swimming back in my life. After having my swim timed by Elise earlier in the week, I realized that despite this being my first triathlon, I could actually be a contender for my age group in the swim portion. This was another one of those defining moments when I became convinced that I could not only do this, but do it well!
The following morning it was race day. I had set my alarm for 5am and true to form I was awake before it went off. I had my typical breakfast of oatmeal and berries coupled with egg whites and I packed from protein pumpkin loaf for the road as I knew it may be up to 4 hours before I would be diving into the pool. I had layed out everything I needed the night before and just needed to put my bike in the car. As I was busy double checking that I had everything I needed, I received a good luck text at 5:15am which reminded me just how lucky I am.
Once I had everything in the car and 6:20am rolled around, I headed over to pick up Elise. I could not ask for a better friend, cheerleader, and training partner and I am so glad I got to share the experience with her. She stuck with me through the whole thing and I couldn't be more grateful.
Upon arriving at the University, we parked my car and put my bike back together before bringing it to the transition zone. We had arrived early enough that I was able to snag a great spot to put my bike which would turn out to be easy to find and close to the bike and run start lines. The next step was to pick up my timing chip which was to be worn around my ankle for the duration of the race and to head to the body marking tent which consisted of a huge bin of black permanent markers. Everyone grabbed a buddy and proceeded to write on each other. You needed to have your race number on both arms and both thighs and then your age and event on the back of your calves. This allowed you to see who was in your event and/or age category and to simply satisfy your natural curiousity of wondering how old people are (for instance this allowed me to discover a 68 year old woman in the best shape I have ever seen!)
With the body marking done and the photo ops taken advantage of, we then grabbed my shoes and swim gear and made the walk down to the pool. I had learned the night before that there was a 500m run between the pool building and the T-zone so they advised us to leave shoes to run in at the back door of the pool. After dropping off my shoes, it was time for us to part ways as I made my way to the pool deck and Elise went to the upstairs observation area. On deck, the Try-a-Tri and Super Sprint competitors were lining up for the swim and the athletes in my category congregated at the back to wait for our turn.
When they started calling out estimated finish times for the 500m swim, I placed myself behind the 9 minute marker and got in line with the other competitors. I then looked around me and realized I was surrounded by a lot of very strong looking men and for a second I wondered "can I really keep up with them?" This moment of panic quickly passed though as I calmly reminded myself that I had timed my swim just two days before and that I was more than capable of holding my own.
The start times were staggered every fifteen seconds since it was a pool triathlon. You waited for your turn to be called onto the timing mat and for the official to give you the okay to dive in. The swim portion went by in a flash and I was soon jumping out of the water to Elise's enthusiastic cheers before I ran down the stairs and out the doors to ditch my cap and googles and throw on my cycling capris and shoes. Already slightly out of breath, I ran up the hill to the transition zone and quickly found my bike. I remember thinking to myself "Oh my god, I am really doing this!"
When the bike portion started, my legs felt pretty tired already. It took a few kilometres to really get my stride. I tried to look around and soak it the experience while admiring some of the intense triathlon bikes. I remember during the orientation session someone asking about "drafting" which is when you follow too closely behind another bike putting yourself in an aerodynamic position and is cause for disqualification for the race. In response to this person's question, our guide responded that while it is important to avoid drafting, unless your bike costs over $2000 chances are you aren't the one the race officials will be watching!
One of the most memorable moments of the bike leg was being passed by a member of the Ottawa Triathlon Club who having read my name on my race bib shouted "way to go Brittany, keep it up!" It was just the boost I needed to make it through the rest of the bike leg which included two loops around Colonel By Drive for a total of 23.6km. As you approached the final turn you had to go up a small hill, but the momentum you got going down was enough to drive you into the dismount zone.
As I got off the bike my legs felt like jelly. I clumsily ran my bike back into the transition zone praying that I would be able to find my spot. After a brief moment of disorientation, I quickly found my stall, dropped off my bike, and threw on my running hat. As I made my way for to the starting gate, I became painfully aware of why they refer to bike/run workouts as "bricks." My legs truly felt like bricks as I struggled to find my stride and convince my body that it could do this. Throughout the entire run I kept telling myself to just keep going and I was thrilled to reach the half way point and the water station (after which time my legs finally felt a little more like normal). I remember then reaching the 3km mark and thinking "Only two more km until I am a triathlete, only two more km!!" then when I rounded the corner to the 4km mark I knew that I could bring it home.
As I ran up the small hill to where I could see the sign for the "Finish Line" a huge smile broke out on face and I sprinted onto the timing mat and into the recovery station. Apparently they call out your name as you are running past, but I was too excited to hear it. I was officially a triathlete and it felt amazing!
I refueled with some gatorade and split my bagel and banana with my cheerleader and then proceeded to what I can only describe as prance around the vincinity with my finisher's medal. I felt on top of the world and told Elise to get on her computer because we were registering for the next available race! Elise then informed me that the results of the swim were posted and that I done great! We waited around for the rest of the results and I was thrilled to have beaten my own personal goal time for myself. All in all a very successful day!
I can't thank everyone enough for the good luck and congratulatory texts, phone calls, and offers to go out for ice cream. As I pulled into our back parking lot after the race and got out of the car, my neighbour's girlfriend was outside and said hello before turning to look at me and excitedly asking if I had been in a race. It was my first chance to really say "yeah I was! I just completed a triathlon". AMAZING!
A lot of people have been asking me if I will be doing another race and the answer is a resounding YES! I am definitely hooked. While I had already signed up for the Olympic Triathlon on August 4th and have been following a training plan for it, I have decided to do another Sprint distance one in June to help me prepare. Actually, in my post race euphoria which lasted for several wonderful hours, I registered for the next available race only to realize a couple hours later that it falls on the day of my French competency test! whoops! I blame it on the adrenaline and the euphoria. In any case, I will be switching my registration compete in the Smith Falls Triathlon on June 24th and I am thrilled to say that I will have not just a cheerleader, but a partner in crime this time around as Elise will be doing the race with me!!
Bring on the open water swim! ;)
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