Summer is HERE!
It has been a sweltering 90+ degrees for nearly a week now so I think it is safe to say that summer has arrived. Normally I LOVE the heat of summer. I live for it. I constantly complain about how cold I am whether it be the winter, spring, or summer. I just get cold easily. Working outside at pools all summer for years upon end really built up an immunity to the heat that affects so many others. Which is why I have always loved to race in the heat of the summer. It's not that I race better but I have always been less affected by that heat than my rivals. However, I don't think this is the case anymore. The daily grind of my inside job has likely put an end to my immunity to racing in the heat.
I was on the fence too long regarding registering for the summer version of the Rec Plex Triathlon. I finally bit the bullet a week prior to the race knowing full well that I would be one of the last to start this year. Once Fleet Fleet posted the swim start times and the weatherfolk were predicting a 95 degree weekend, I knew I was in trouble. The only help was that the organizers of the race moved the start time up a half hour from the normal 6:30 start to 6:00. As racer 432, I was set to start at 7:47. This is actually still earlier than most other tris start so I thought I had a chance... I did not.
The swim was slower than I would have wanted but I had a feeling it would be as I was waging battle with some lane hogs who weren't incredibly gifted in the water. Transition was likely no slower or faster than normal. The bike was actually better than I've felt in a while. It was by no means my fastest on this very flat course but it was the fastest bike split I've had in the past 2 years. So I was happy with that. Rolling into transition I thought I was ready for a good run. Ha. The heat had other plans. I started off at a blistering 8:00 mile pace expecting to drop that pace substantially as I ticked off the miles. Nope. It just wasn't in the cards this time. With the heat index that I swear had to be approaching 100 or more, I just settled for finishing the race standing up. I did. I didn't walk. I didn't quit. I just finished. Not the results I expected but not utterly disappointing either. I was 10th OA and 4th in my Age Group.
The most important part of the day was that my family was there. I had talked my mom and brother into driving my dad to the race. My dad took me to my first triathlon ever (Lake Saint Louis 2001) and hasn't seen me race since. So with the race falling on Father's Day this year I thought it would be nice to have my dad there watching me do what I love. Something he helped get me into in the first place. Even though it was hot, I think everyone had a good day. We all went out for lunch afterwards and likely headed home to take a nap by midday.
My first race of the year was OctoMax out at Innsbrook this year. I really wasn't ready for it but Jason had won a free entry to QuarterMax so I thought I might as well do it if I was going to be out there anyways. The swim was fine (I chose not to wear a wetsuit although most did). The bike was absolutely atrocious. I have never been strong on the hills of any bike leg and it showed. The run was a challenge as I had my left calf cramp up and left me walking a couple times. Got the cramp worked out and continued running. Not my finest hour but I somehow managed to win my Age Group nonetheless which included a bottle of Les Bourgeouis' cheapest, dry, white wine!
I would love to say that these races have served the purpose of my typical early competitions and lit a fire under my ass but alas they have not. I am content with enjoying one more year without the competitiveness I have shown in past years. With getting married, working to finish my Master's degree, remodeling the condo, selling the condo, looking for a house, and who knows what else... I will likely continue to train as I am able and just sit back and enjoy another triathlon season.
I was on the fence too long regarding registering for the summer version of the Rec Plex Triathlon. I finally bit the bullet a week prior to the race knowing full well that I would be one of the last to start this year. Once Fleet Fleet posted the swim start times and the weatherfolk were predicting a 95 degree weekend, I knew I was in trouble. The only help was that the organizers of the race moved the start time up a half hour from the normal 6:30 start to 6:00. As racer 432, I was set to start at 7:47. This is actually still earlier than most other tris start so I thought I had a chance... I did not.
The swim was slower than I would have wanted but I had a feeling it would be as I was waging battle with some lane hogs who weren't incredibly gifted in the water. Transition was likely no slower or faster than normal. The bike was actually better than I've felt in a while. It was by no means my fastest on this very flat course but it was the fastest bike split I've had in the past 2 years. So I was happy with that. Rolling into transition I thought I was ready for a good run. Ha. The heat had other plans. I started off at a blistering 8:00 mile pace expecting to drop that pace substantially as I ticked off the miles. Nope. It just wasn't in the cards this time. With the heat index that I swear had to be approaching 100 or more, I just settled for finishing the race standing up. I did. I didn't walk. I didn't quit. I just finished. Not the results I expected but not utterly disappointing either. I was 10th OA and 4th in my Age Group.
The most important part of the day was that my family was there. I had talked my mom and brother into driving my dad to the race. My dad took me to my first triathlon ever (Lake Saint Louis 2001) and hasn't seen me race since. So with the race falling on Father's Day this year I thought it would be nice to have my dad there watching me do what I love. Something he helped get me into in the first place. Even though it was hot, I think everyone had a good day. We all went out for lunch afterwards and likely headed home to take a nap by midday.
My first race of the year was OctoMax out at Innsbrook this year. I really wasn't ready for it but Jason had won a free entry to QuarterMax so I thought I might as well do it if I was going to be out there anyways. The swim was fine (I chose not to wear a wetsuit although most did). The bike was absolutely atrocious. I have never been strong on the hills of any bike leg and it showed. The run was a challenge as I had my left calf cramp up and left me walking a couple times. Got the cramp worked out and continued running. Not my finest hour but I somehow managed to win my Age Group nonetheless which included a bottle of Les Bourgeouis' cheapest, dry, white wine!
I would love to say that these races have served the purpose of my typical early competitions and lit a fire under my ass but alas they have not. I am content with enjoying one more year without the competitiveness I have shown in past years. With getting married, working to finish my Master's degree, remodeling the condo, selling the condo, looking for a house, and who knows what else... I will likely continue to train as I am able and just sit back and enjoy another triathlon season.
posted by Nikki Reed Difani at 2:19 PM
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