What next?

Since the triathlon I have been taking things pretty easy. Apart from my cycle commute, I haven't been training. Unfortunately my cuboid injury is worse and I'm off running for a month now, have it taped up and am trying to keep it rested.

Tomorrow I think I'll head to my local pool and join up with the Triathlon club. Swimming with them twice a week, plus cycling to and from work will hopefully keep up my fitness levels until I can start running again too. My next target is the UBC Triathlon in March, which has a pool swim.

Full update on my first tri

After the experience on the Monday prior to the triathlon (exactly one week prior), where I was rescued by a lifeguard - I spent the next few days coming to terms with the fact that I was not ready for the open water swim. My feeling was that I could not handle the cold, or get used to my wetsuit in time for the race. I am so happy I was wrong.

A couple of friends posed the question, what if I just tried? People were so supportive of my decision either way, but the question 'what if?' hung over me. Then I read this post. Specifically:

Fear drives us to not act in case we fail. But aren’t we ‘failing’ if we don’t act either, or even more so, because if we gave it our all and ‘failed’ would that not be more of a success than nothing at all? When you risk it all and give it all you’ve got, you’ll end up with a lot either way.

I swam with the VOWSA, got into trouble, and got help from the lifeguard on duty. The triathlon would have more lifeguards and boats, and was a shorter distance. It was safer. Therefore the only fear was of humiliation. This helped me make my final decision.

What helped further was having a friend to look after the kids (at such a ridiculously early hour), so that Austen could come along and be my rock, cheerleader, twitterer and photographer (I needed evidence!).

We arrived at around 6.3oam, which left a full 90 minutes before I would actually head into the water. We spent the time trying to keep warm and ensure I didn't lose my nerve. When the time came I realised I was surrounded by other people who were apprehensive, unsure of the water. We spent time swimming heads-up crawl and backstroke. Every time I put my face in I felt the uncontrollable urge to gasp (and inhale water). At about 3/4 of the way round I finally acclimatised and managed to get into a good crawl rhythm (breathing every 2nd stroke). I finished strongly and came out pumped! The swim took ~19 minutes.


I won't say much about the rest, just...

I pulled on layers, gloves, hat under helmet for the bike leg, and still shivered through the entire 18.5km. I have NEVER felt so cold in my life. But if felt great - I was so happy to be through to the next leg (not pulled out of the ocean in a boat and disqualified!). I even managed to take some competitors on the climbs who were riding real racing bikes - but they soon overtook me on the way back down (I may have thigh-strength, but lack the nerves for flying down hills unchecked!). Time (including both transitions) was ~59 minutes.

I headed out for the run leg feeling pretty good, not as tired as I expected. I managed to get warm at last and felt like I had a good pace. When I arrived back I was shocked to see the clock at 2:38, knowing that my group entered the water almost an hour into the race. This meant I was way below the 2 hour mark that I expected. I was so happy to finish, and at a good time too.

I've been feeling great all day today. The nausea is still there (I still have no idea why). Perhaps laying off the training for a few days and taking some rest will help. Anyway, I got my results at last:

In my age group, I came 18/36. Yay! The swim took 19:02, bike was 58:48 (which included both transitions), and the run was 26:16. That is a personal best for the 5km! Total time 144:05.

I did it!!!

No time for a full post right now, more to come, but just had to mark the occasion and mention that I did in fact go along and try, and succeed in the Vancouver Triathlon at Stanley Park today.

I don't think I've ever been as cold as I was on the bike ride - never quite shook off the chill from the 16c ocean swim. What a bitter day. So happy though. I think my time was good too, probably under 2 hours (I have no idea really, results not in yet on the website).

Here are some photos of the morning.

Huge thank yous to all my wonderful friends and family who believed in me when I didn't, and who supported me in reaching this goal. I am a very lucky individual to have such great people to turn to!

The training continues - but the goal is uncertain

I headed out for a swim last night. The evenings are getting a lot darker and it was quite eerie swimming in an almost empty outdoor pool during sunset. Finding billateral breathing tough, but still wanting the balance of breathing each side, I swam my usual rythmn, but alternated sides with lengths. I felt a bit worn out to be honest.

I aimed for 30 lengths of the 50m pool. The whole workout took about 45 minutes. Half way through the 29th length I had my first real swimming cramp experience. Not the twinges you get in your foot, full blown muscle contraction right up both calves which caused me to double over - not an easy swim position! I was approximately 1 inch out of my depth and managed to hop to safety with a lifeguard calling out 'are you okay?'. I answered 'yes' and them some expletives under my breath, pulled myself out and pummelled my calves on the side for a few minutes.

When I explained all this to Austen he asked if I had a thing for lifeguards. Only female ones it seems.

I spent a bit of time thinking about this. I don't think this is an electrolyte issue. I think I might be overtraining. My doctor mentioned this last week when I went to him with unexplained nausea (ongoing). He suggested training with a heartrate monitor to keep me within sensible limits. One of the results of overtraining appears to be a build up of lactic acid in muscles - which sounds like it might cause a bit of cramp.

Know when you need help, and ask for it.

Last night I went out with VOWSA with my new (used) wetsuit. Firstly, let me back up and explain about the wetsuit thing...

Last Thursday, after my full lap with VOWSA I realised my wetsuit wasn't adequate for warmth, as I emerged from the ocean going blue and shivering. I found a true swimming and triathlon wetsuit on Craigslist and picked it up over the weekend, taking the MEC one back for a refund. So off I went last night, to try the new (used) one out for the first time.

Exciting news - there was a grey whale out there! Whilst this was off-putting for some of my fellow swimmers, I couldn`t wait to get out there. Then the other news, the ocean temperature had dropped to 16 degrees (c). That`s pretty cold.

The water was beautifully calm, the sun was shining, and I headed into the water full of optimism. However, it was clear when I started out that this was going to be a challenge. I made it to the first buoy and headed west - and the sun hit my eyes, making it difficult to spot the next buoy.

I felt my pace slowing, becoming more laboured. A guy arrived and asked if I was okay. I said yes and asked if he`d swim with me. He agreed, but after a few more strokes I felt that it was an impossible task and said I would head back to shore.

Not many more strokes later, in the direction of the shore, I felt so tired. At this point I realised I couldn`t get back. Floating on my back to relax didn`t help and my chest became tight. `This is why you swim in a group with lifeguards around` I thought, so I waved and called for help.

Another male swimmer arrived before the boat did and checked to see how I was doing. Okay I said, but I needed the boat soon. Thankfully, the lifeguard was a strong rower, although she was some way off she reached me quickly.

I was strong enough to pull myself into the boat. By this time I wanted to rip my wetsuit off, I felt I was being crushed. The lifeguard helped me get the zip undone and handed me her sweater. I think I might have fallen in love with her for a moment. That happens when you get rescued - right? Anyway, the relief I felt was ridiculous. I thanked her way more than was necessary and she managed to make me feel like I wasn`t a complete idiot for getting into trouble.

So - what does this mean? For now it means that I need a break. I`m not ready for this. I know I can swim the distance, all three together would be fine, but out in the ocean, out of my depth and in cold water I`m not ready. I need to reset my goals and keep my fitness up, plan to increase my stamina and work towards the next local triathlon. Probably at UBC where the swim portion is in a pool.

Lessons learned... Open water swimming is hard work. Don`t ever think that doing the distance in a pool reflects what its going to be like on race day. I should have started open water swimming earlier in the season. Even then a drop in temperature like this would have been a serious challenge. Secondly, asking for help when you need it is good. Knowing your limits is good. Open water swimming in a group is good. And lifeguards are great! Its hard for me to believe I used to be one.

Highs and lows of triathlon training

I've been feeling low since my experience with VOWSA on Monday. However, they were so welcoming, and insisted I go back and try again. I went back this evening and a different volunteer was expecting me. The other woman had told her all about me. She paired me up with another volunteer for my swim. I took it slow, concentrated on relaxing, had a small goal (the first buoy) and made it around the whole 1.2km course in a choppy ocean. I came out shivering and wobbly but elated!

Before I left for the swim session I wrote this, which describes the highs and lows of training so far...

The High...

Running, in the trails at hornby, deciding to take a second loop, getting back after injury.

I was on my own, at my pace, no music. I felt efficient. The run was almost effortless. I had biked there and would cycle back as part of my tri-training. I felt slightly tingly with heat/sweat. But not uncomfortably hot.

I felt in control and strong.

The Low...

Unprepared, taking to the ocean in a wetsuit with a group of swimmers braver, more confident. Into the water, unable to get a stroke/rythmn going with waves slapping in my face. Bobbing around like a cork, feeling out of control. Feeling panic and the constriction of the wetsuit around my chest and interpreting it as asthma. Realising I was being left behind and wanting to give up. Going back to the shore, as the rest continued round the 1km loop.

I felt weak and scared.

Now...

Now, waiting to head over there to swim with VOWSA. My heart is already racing. Knowing I can do as much or as little as I like, but still afraid. Of what? I'm not sure.

My orthotics got me through a 7.5km trail run!

Woohoo! My feet held out on the trails and I had an amazing run with my good friend in the early hours of the morning.

In other news, I'm keen to get back out there with the VOWSA tomorrow in an attempt to crack my fear of open water swimming. Checked the forecast and thunderstorms are likely! Going to head down there anyway and see how it goes...