Well, it took me several attempts to figure out how to get Mary Ellen's email into this blog, but I finally got it! What a great compilation of perspectives from all of you and it's so rewarding to see how this club has grown this last year. I have had some really awesome experiences in coaching these last few months between my high school athletes and all of the tri club members. It's experiences like this that make coaching just as rewarding as competing. Congratulations to all of you, keep up the great work!
“Stories Out of Red Bank”
Red Bank Olympic Distance
RACE REPORT
Participants: MaryEllen, Bob, Anthony, Katie, Maureen
I hope all of you take a moment to read the race details of Bob, Anthony, Katie, John, Maureen and myself from our Red Bank Olympic Distance Tri event yesterday. If you ever questioned why you became a triathlete, I think the blogs from each of us will give you validation. I hope you find it as inspiring reading these as I did writing them!!
BOB
Meeting the team at 4:30 was the first thrill of the day! Yes, people I actually know doing the same stupid thing I am doing!!
The ride down to Red Bank was a memorable one:
- telling our stories about getting into the sport
- Mare drilling John on every aspect of his life -- the Feds need her since they stopped water boarding
- Katie’s laughter so early in the morning
- Anthony asking me if I wanted hold hands on the way down
Pre-Race highlights included:
- Setting up in the rain, putting down the towel and have it become a sponge in 2 seconds.
- Wondering if changing my transitions to a sockless strategy would work
- All of us calming each other down about our own prerace phobias
The Race highlights:
I was surprised that on the swim that 50 and older men go first, get out! I was first in the water for the water start -- I am so type A!! I loved having Mare and Katie right next to me at the start, very cool! During the swim, I was wondering how there is no one else within 50 feet half way through the swim except for one guy who was able to kick me three times in fifty yards?
Getting out of the water for T1, I strip, put on my helmet, glasses and shoes and I am off out of the fastest transition I have ever had. I eat a GU, however stick the Aero straw in my cheek then my eye before finding my lips to drink some Gatorade. I check every calf that goes by for age: WHOA, that one said 56!! CRAP! GO FASTER!!
Hey wait! I recognize that cute buttocks: Hey Mare looking great!!! (Mare is typing this and decides to bold and italics this line!!)
At T2, I quickly get into my new Zoots without socks -- blister town here I come!! But my transition time was quick! Realized I forgot my hat and the GPS, oh well. At the first water stop…WHAT??!! You only have water?? No Gu no Gatorade??? I was feeling surprisingly good until …whoosh… runner after runner is passing me: yes running is my Achilles heel! I really need to lose 2-3, maybe 35 lbs!!!
- “Bob your looking good!” thanks John!
- “Bob your looking good!” thanks Mare!
I start to worry about Anthony -- he should have passed me on the bike? I felt great though the run and cannot wait to see the splits!
At the Finish…Yea! There’s Mare and John! I find out that Ant had bike trouble and am relieved. I watched Katie and Maureen come in, very exiting! The big moment was when all of us were at the finish line for Ant when he came in after having bike problems! But he STILL had a great run!!! It was a very cool ceremony for Mare who placed 2nd in her age group, with some great pictures Gotta love a podium finish and it is only May!
On the ride home, I wonder why everyone is so damn quiet?? At home, I devoured anything that had a bad nutrition label!! Conclusion: would do it again in a heartbeat!!!
KATIE
I start my day with a bowl of oatmeal then meet the group of huddled ducks under Anthony's garage overhang...yes raining!! On the ride down, I got to hear some stories and more personal information about folks. WOW...this is one great group of people!!! I am feeling pretty good, not too nervous about the swim yet...until the Ironman video is put on in the van!! Seeing the swim, people clasping - my stomach started to roll and now I am looking around the car for what I could use as a pail to lose my oatmeal.
Still raining - oh well, not like I was not going to get wet. Registration looks a little clumsy and what's up with only 4 port-a-johns? We decided to drop our stuff at the transition spot and walk the in/out spots and see the swim course. Ok - where's the pail? The swim course looked scary to me and apparently it showed in my face as Mare turns and says "YOU CAN DO THIS!!" I loved hearing the race director say how he mapped out the swim course using his GPS app on his iPhone - what the heck is that!!!! I want state of the art equipment staking out the course!
It was a little weird starting in water, but in the end I think I like it better. Got a great hug from Bob – let’s hope before he warmed the water :-). The course was clockwise which was a advantage to me since I only breathe on the right side. I found a girl spotting a lot and double checked her accuracy a few times. She was doing well. So I let her spot for me while I just swam along side of her. All was good until .6 and we rounded the buoy, got a nice kick to my stomach and made me pop up for a minute to breath. Well, no big deal -- time to finish this!! I know the men are coming soon and sure has hell don't want them swimming over me. Current was pulling me a little out, but spotted every 5th stroke and was fine. I had to wait in line to get out of the water (only 3 ladders) so that was a little annoying. I am in good shape - suit is already half off and ready to fly. Well then like a dummy I decided to wear a silk long sleeve undershirt, under my bike shirt - WRONG. This thing took a solid minute to put on. Lesson learned - no silk on wet body. I chuck on my helmet & glasses and off I go.
On the bike I felt good - tried out the Aero bars and loving them. Into a good pace and then hear - "Is that Katie??" and here comes Anthony riding like the wind!! Wow he's fast! Later I saw him changing his flat tire :-) - I felt so bad for him. I kept waiting for him to fly past me again - where is he? The rest of the bike was uneventful until I got into the home stretch and recognized Maureen. We had a quick chat, well wishes and then ran into transition. Go Maureen!!!
OK - where is my spot??? Took a few extra seconds to find it, but whatever I found it. I rip off my silk undershirt and threaten its life with the trash can on the way out. Put on a dry tee shirt, knee band and start running.
Ok - did someone put lead in my shoes? My legs are tired and I think my butt is dragging on the ground. I tell myself to stop belly aching and get through it. I sight a guy in front of me and just hold onto hit pace. He gets me through the first mile and then I feel better. I turn about mile 1.5 and see John. YEAH - he is doing awesome and looks strong!!!!
I get into the wood part of the trail - I guess mile 2.3 and see Mary Ellen - I yell out to her and we high five. Man she is doing great - but there was no doubt she would! As I start to round the 3 mile marker and start my journey back one of the helpers yells "you're doing great you are almost 1/2 way there" - WHAT?!? I thought that was half way. The lady next to her says "this is 1/2 way" - thank god! I head back into the wood and see Anthony! YEAH - (His darn tire - his story to tell). I was so glad to see him, though!!
I completed the race 3:10 and felt good, but need water. They only had two jugs of water with 4oz Dixie cups - are you kidding!! I drank about 8 cups and then walked back to the finish line to find Bob, John, Maureen, Mary Ellen. We saw Anthony coming and decided to jump in after he crossed and give him a huge hug. We also got a nice photo from the photographer. It was great!!! There was something else - Oh yeah...that little thing about Mary Ellen getting 2nd in her age group!!! Holy sugar Batman!! That is terrific. We were all so happy to see her accept the award.
Mare and I go to change at the hospital and what do we see - is that heaven? Close to it - Dunkin Donuts....oh baby!!! Mary Ellen treats us all - THANK YOU!!
Lessons learned: I should be taking in more fuel. For the car conversation - sounded like 2 Gels/GUs and a bottle of Gatorade would have been good. I only did a 1/2 bottle of water the whole way. Decided I need to try out fueling during my longer workouts. At home, I unpacked all my wet junk, yelled at my silk shirt again. Hugged the family and showered. The rest of the day was spent playing battle games in my son’s room with his castles, reading books, playing with Mikayala & Eirica and making lunches for school the next day! Very exciting!!!
JOHN
The best part of the day for me was having each other for support, mentally and physically. I think there is a huge amount of motivation when you have a team working together cheering each other on! And for the first race of the season I think everyone had a great day. Of course accept for Anthony's blowout. But I loved his positive attitude.
As far as my personal race, I finished feeling strong and injury free. To break it down, my swim is always the toughest part of my race. I felt much better in the water even though I didn’t see my split times. I don’t expect it to be a great time, but I didn’t exhaust myself.
Coming out of T1 I knew I had a lot of catching up to do so I picked up the intensity knowing that the rest were ahead of me. About halfway through the bike I saw Anthony, I told him I hit a pot hole and lost my bottles out of the cage. He offered me one of his but I didn’t want him to be at a loss. Thanks Ant! Unfortunately, there were no aid stations on the bike route so I took in no fluids since the start of the race. I also feel bad cause right after I saw Anthony is when he had his blowout, and I had the tube he needed. Oh Well! That’s life!!
Going into T2 I was feeling a little heavy in the legs due to not replacing the calories that I had lost. But, I wasn’t cramping so that was a good sign. I see Mary Ellen I think near the end of the first mile -- they didn’t have markers out so unless you were wearing a GPS you didn’t know how far you were! She was looking very strong so I knew she would have a good race. Then when I got to around the third mile I saw Bob. He was very focused and was keeping a good pace. I also knew he would have a good race. Coming back around near mile 5 I saw Anthony and knew something went wrong. He was way too far behind. He explained what happened but was very positive. Coming back around into town my body was feeling good. I was lucky enough to pace with another athlete for pretty much the whole run. I finished feeling good and very happy. The weather held out and we all finished safely! I think it was a great race to build off of and tweak what didn’t work out.
ANTHONY
Short and sweet for me:
The swim went OK, although it’s hard to judge how I did until I see the splits. I think I did somewhere around 27:30, but don't hold me to that because I have never been so dizzy after a swim. If I wasn't helped up a ladder I might not have made it. Maybe it was 37:20....................
T1: Between being dizzy and wearing a borrowed wetsuit I had a tough time getting the darn thing off. My game plan was not to rush the transitions so that didn't bother me.
Spending $3,400.00 on a new bike will always make your bike splits go down, CORRECT??? Not on this day. Everything felt good until the flat. I only wish I knew how long I sat on the side of the road waiting, I feel like it would give me a better sense of a realistic finish time for me. You all know the story by now so let’s move on. Now I am back on the bike smiling again.
T2: uneventful
I was not pleased with the run at all. That's the type of course that suits me and I just didn't have the legs. Cramped up after a mile and never recovered. I need to take a serious look at my nutrition because this happens to me often. I don't think GU is for me. Think I did somewhere around 53:00?....................horrible.
Pro's:
- Mare second in her age!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
- Katie having a strong swim...................everyone but Katie knew she would.
- Nice to race this early in the season to get the kinks out.
- Had a blast with some friends.
MAUREEN
Getting there and seeing everyone made me feel sooooooooo much better than doing it alone. Even just asking stupid questions about setting up was helpful -- it just made this the best experience!
The in-water swim was fine, despite the screw-up of them having Ant and John jump in by accident (that sucked). I should have been more aggressive and started more in the front. The open water swim is so much harder for me than in pool, I'm pretty sure it is because I am poor at following the buoys. As a result, it feels like I swim in circles at times. (am going to make a point to do open water swim during training now, there's a place in rye where my sister lives). As Anthony, I was so dizzy when I got back to the transition so I took my time.
T he bike is my weakest part overall. I ran out of drink (gatorade) and really wished i had more. I had a GU, but I can't take it without drink so that was out. I'll take 2 water bottles next time. I lost my chain which was easy to put back on but that delayed me a bit. I also wish I had studied the course a bit more online to know my way. How great it was to hear Katie's voice at the tail end of the bike: really friendly and nice just before the run! Ant and John passed me which was also really nice and a bit inspirational. It made me work harder, even just for a bit.
The run wasn't too bad. I am always a bit wobbly getting of the bike so I'll do this more in training. I was definitely a lot slower than I normally run, maybe even a minute per mile, and my legs don't seem to work well until mile 3. I loved the transition to the grassy area as it really broke up the run. I also liked out and back.
Overall, the best part was doing this with our group. It really made it such a blast for me and so much fun! I agree, we all look so happy in the picture!!!!
MARE
Looking at the weather earlier in the week, it was clear that we would not have ideal conditions for our Red Bank Olympic Distance. I decided to get over it and not let that bother me…it will be what it will be. I awoke at 3:30 am to go through my pre-race ritual: shower (yes, I know…smooth legs are important!!), review the course map over coffee, double check my gear, and say a prayer in the quiet. J Despite the rain and darkness, driving down in Anthony’s van was one of those times I will always remember: we swapped stories about how we got into triathlons, listened to pieces of Bob’s incredible life story, John Pax graciously let me grill him mercilessly about every aspect of his life (you are a good sport, john!!)…and watching the video of Kona!! We got there in record time, by 5:30am and the organizers were just setting up. They were not shy about letting us know their displeasure at our early arrival. Quite frankly, they were the most surly registration bunch I have ever encountered, really giving us the business about having our USAT cards!! We couldn’t register online without paying the $10 fee so come on!!
We held off setting up our Transition spots because of the rain…and decided instead to hit the port-a-johns (there were only 4 which I actually e-mailed the Race Director about – CRAZY!!!) and decided to go check out the water. Holy far buoy!! Really?? This was .9??? You could barely SEE the far buoy!! Participants were freaking out about the distance and the race director informed us that he had, in fact, measured the distance the day before with his…hard to believe…iphone!!! Ummm…this is a USAT-sanctioned event, right???? I didn’t mind because you all pretty much know how I feel about the swim: move that buoy out, baby!!! Good for me…not so good for you!! Haha!!
The first wave was for us old farts: 50 and over men and 40 and over women. The water felt surprisingly good! Must be my new $300 wetsuit!! I loved being near Bob and Katie at the in-the-water start. The hug from Bob…although nearly drowning me…was all the fuel I needed to get going! J I pulled away from the crowd pretty much from the get-go and, still not knowing my splits upon writing this, I believe I was in the top group out of the water in my wave. My sighting was effective and I had this one gal in my vision the entire time, using her as a marker. Upon seeing the dock at the end, I bid her a “thanks” and swam past to the ladder! Coming out of the water of course I yelled, “What # am I???” Someone said…”Third!!”…but I don’t think that is accurate.
Always having a strong swim gives me a real jump start on the bike – my weakness – and for awhile, I was pretty much by myself on the rolling hills course! This one guy passed me saying, “I hate being up front..not sure about this course!!” Was I actually “up front?????” The first few miles, my legs felt strained, tight. I do not have a computer on my bike (yeah yeah…next purchase) and there were no signs on the course so I had NO way of knowing if I was at mile 5…or 20!! I would occasionally yell out to the kid volunteers on the corner – who would often hold arrow signs facing the wrong direction!! – asking them what mile we were at?? They had no clue and looked as though they were not quite sure if they were holding signs for a race…or a car wash. About halfway through the course, the “real” triathletes – on their “tri machines!” – started to pass me one by one. I could hear the whizzing of their high-end wheels before I could actually see them! Think of it like a Ferrari passing a horse and buggy – that’s what it felt like to me!! Of course, I kept my eye on their marked calves for 40’s!!
This was the first time I was smart about my nutrition. I ate every 2-3 hours the day before and drank water all day long. I consumed a PB&J (my favorite!!) on the way down, about 2 hours out, and then a banana about ½ hour before the start. Then, 1/2 hour into the bike, I consumed a GU and sipped water which I powdered with Accelerade throughout the ride. I consumed another GU about ½ hour later. I think consciously thinking about my nutrition powered me because the second half of the course I felt the strongest I have ever felt on the bike…during any training stint or race. Something to note: some guy on the route commenting on my ass. I was both offended and elated at the same time! (Been hitting the Smith Machine for squats so yeah…I’m happy its paying off, alright???) I quickly realized, however, that it was Bob and that doesn’t really count! Haha He said, “hey babe” as he blew by me looking so incredibly strong and fast and showing those 30 year-olds how to REALLY ride a bike!!!! It was so great seeing him and I feel he pulled me along!!
Transition went smoothly and started off running with sunglasses (was I afraid of cloud glare??). Decided they would just distract me so I handed them to a volunteer crossing the mat. She was less than thrilled but as I was running up hill I yelled back at her not to lose them!! As always, that first mile just BLOWS, SUCKS, BITES…! But then, like a beacon in the night, I see John Pax, running shirtless (NICE!!) and his smile and words of encouragement (think he said..Hey ponytail!!) lit a fire under my ass. This time, my head was completely in the game and kept my feet low to the ground for the first 2 miles, tucked my tailbone underneath, and was able to open up on mile 3. Although I love him to death, I had Bob in my sights and had to get him back for dusting me on the ride. In true Bob fashion he says, “I’ll see you at the finish line, Mare!!” Sniff..sniff…
For me, I had two absolutely memorable moments which will probably not only stay with me my entire race career (if you can call it that!), but my whole life. Where’s Katie…where’s Katie… I kept saying in my head. I knew my friend had worked so hard to conquer the open water. I have never seen anyone tackle something so head on. My worst fear was that something had happened to her. And then…coming out of the woods at my mile 4…I saw her. I actually had to choke back tears (ps..sobbing as I write this…) Her smile was one of the greatest things I have EVER seen . SHE DID IT!!!! Although we high-fived, I truly could have hugged or tackled her. She had an incredible time and there is no stopping her now!!!
I kept wondering “WTF was Anthony??” Then I heard him before I actually saw him “GET EM MARE!!!!” I saw him at about mile 5. After I had found out about his flat, I was truly amazed by his positive attitude and outlook on the incident. The fact that he was smiling and screaming for me?? It truly speaks to the kind of guy he really is. Wow…I am so proud to be his friend!!
My second most memorable moment: after the race, John Paxton went to look at the results. He comes back: “Not sure, Mare…but I think you are #2 in your age group!!” Like a true “woman,” I start to cry. (There’s no crying in triathlons!!!). I assured my group that it was ok…they can mail me my award…we don’t have to stay for the ceremony. They would hear nothing of it. The sight of them standing there, with their phones out, taking my picture, was just so emotional for me. It wasn’t so much about placing, or the award, but more about this amazing group which I have stumbled upon, who share my desire to train and compete and simply just “get it.” I am touched by their incredible support, not just yesterday, but every day in every way…with EVERY… SINGLE… E-MAIL
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