Rev3 Quassy
Well, to sum up I'm very glad that race is over and most of all that I finished since I thought of quitting several times. If it wasn't for EN I think I might of. My original goal was 7:30 hours. WIth the heat i revised it to 7:45-8:00.
SWIM: This was my first open water swim this year and my first race. I have a long history of getting so nervous and excited before a race that I begin to hyperventilate which makes the beginning of the swim very tough. Fortunately it did not happen to me at any of my events last year and I thought I was finally over it. Not so. I don't know what brought it on but I once again couldn't breathe. It's not fear. I'm a solid swimmer...slow but solid. And I trust my skills. It's more the excitement. Knowing that doesn't help though. I had to do backstroke to the first buoy. Of course this slowed me down considerably. My swim finish was 57:38.
BIKE: My favorite! Even though it was a hilly course I live in an area that is pretty much identical terrain so I was accustomed to it. Unfortunately my bike decided to act up. First I couldn't shift to my small ring in the front. THis meant I had to climb every hill in my big ring. Ouch! THen I discovered (the hard way) that I had limited gears in the back. My chain dropped 9 times before I figured out I better limit shifting between 3 gears. THis all happened around mile 24ish. It took me 5 hours to complete the bike!
RUN: by the run my legs were shot. THe day had gotten hotter. I did a lot of shuffling. I know I nailed my nutrition as I used the port-o-john once on the bike and twice on the run. I felt fine. My heart rate was low. It was just my legs that didn't seem to work. Every time I asked them to pick up the pace they just laughed at me. All I could think was just finish...even if you have to walk, just finish. I came in 8:37. Not pretty at all.
THe best news, Brenda and team were waiting for me! I couldn't believe they stayed out there so long. What a welcome site!
I think I am too close to IMLP to improve speed. I really need to focus on the mental aspect of the swim and try to keep myself calm. My bike is supposedly fixed so...
I will do Quassy again but...I might just do the Oly instead. That's a mean Half.
Comments
Re: swim.... Did you do a practice swim? This helps me mentally more than anything. It took me a couple of seasons to get comfy w open water swimming. I just tell myself I'm going for a leisurely dip with 500+ of my closest friends.
Great job! Can't wait to hear about Placid!
The Swim--Sounds like you have worked your way thru the pre-swim anxiety , maybe it was just the first race of the year. Practice that , race more local sprints to get used to the start, warm up , and when its time to start stand in the back of your wave and watch everyone go , then leisurely enter the water , you will more than likely make up that time by not back stroking.... As far as LP goes , not sure what to suggest with the new rolling start except to try and seed yourself near the back as long as it allows you the cutoffs and finish times that your looking for. I'm not that familiar with the LP course so hopefully you'll get some good advice there.
The Bike--- not a good course to not have those gears... I cant even imagine it... Get that bike tuned up good pre-LP....
The Run-- no surprise the legs wouldnt co-operate after that bike...