Smile Train Triathlon
June 26, 2016
Wake Forest, NC
I have
to start this race report off with a disclaimer. This race seriously had me
contemplating giving up on doing triathlons. I was at that place in my head for
a good portion on the bike course. I will get into that during bike course
recap. Before I get started I want to recognize folks who without their help
and support today, I would probably still be out there riding aimlessly on the
back roads on Wake Forest. Wake county sheriffs who were my personal escorts
from about mile 7 up until I cross over heritage lake road back to the bike
dismount line. FS series SAG wagon who was behind me probably 3 quarters of the
bike course and I didn’t even realize until about the turnaround at mile 6. My
TIFL tribe who is always there for love, support and motivation. I especially
want to thank Heather Leigh who walked with me on the run course. She probably
saved my life and didn’t even know it. Alexis who rode her bike on the run
course to bring me some water and to see where we were. Even though she talked
junk to me because I declined the water because I always have my camelback on
me with water. Chris McDougal who took my bike and TIFL bag and walked them to
the car for me. Post race I was pretty much dead inside.
Transition
opened at 6:30am. I woke up 2 times before my 5:15am alarm. That’s how it goes
on race day, your body is paranoid that you are going to oversleep so you keep
popping up checking the time. When the alarm went off I was ready to get up. I’m
up getting ready and after eating my bowl of cereal I’m like well I guess I will
get on out here and it’s about 5:55am. I’m about 15 minutes from Heritage where
the race is being held. I get there in no time. Waze takes me the back way on Louisburg
to Forestville road. As I get closer to the swim club, I notice folks are
parked on the sides of the road. I’m thinking this is interesting race parking.
I barely remember something about parking in a lot about ½ mile from the race
site and ride your bike. That got me messed up thinking I’m riding my bike
before the race start. No thanks. I pull into a spot on the side of the road.
Benefit #1 of showing up early you get a close parking spot. I unload all my
stuff. This is my first tri without using a bucket. Look who has grown up. I
got my bike, tri bag and camel back. I cross the street and walk up to the race
site. I find my row in transition. I’m 302 and the row starts with 301. Guess
who mounted her bike on the beginning of the rack. Benefit #2 of being early,
get the good spot on the bike rack. I spotted Karen and Ron Young when I parked.
They are setting up their transition area. I find my towel and start pulling my
gear out. I grab my race belt and head over to registration to get marked. It’s
about 2 blocks around the corner. I sure am lazy for a triathlete. What can I say
I am probably the laziest triathlete you will ever meet. I get body marked.
Volunteer asks me my age and I had to think about that because in triathlons
your age is what you will be in the year. My age is 41, holy smokes batman when
did I leave 40. Thank goodness I still have less than 2 months to enjoy 40 lol.
I head back to transition and I see a few more of the tribe show up. Cynthia
rolls in after picking up her race packet. Alexis rolls in like a boss with her
fly shades on. I see Teresa coming in. Claudia comes in. Kathy/Patty relay team
comes in. Mary and John come in. I spy with my little eye Sharon Johnson from
afar talking to a volunteer. We get together for a pre-race photo. Karen tried
to NOT be in the photo. That’s so not happening. I tell her when a person doesn’t
want to be in the photo, they have to be dragged into the photo and that’s
exactly what happened.
I’m
wondering about the restroom situation. Another racer tells me the bathrooms
are locked at the pool. I was really hoping to use a real restroom. Like the
Geico commercial, “not in my house”. Heritage ain’t playing it. You scrubs go
use the porti potty. They probably didn’t say that but I bet it was something
real close to it. ROFLMAO. I make the pre-race potty run. I start to re-think
my race attire. I don’t own a real TRI suit. It’s hard out here for a fluffy
triathlete. I opt to wear my swimsuit that I train in for the swim portion. I
brought my cycling shorts to put over the swimsuit for the bike portion. I
brought my run shorts for the run or as I like to call it recovery let’s just
put 1 foot in front of the other and move portion. It’s a bit of a process when
you have to use the bathroom with a 1 piece swimsuit on. I head back to
transition. I’m thinking whoever set this up wanted us to really get some walking
in if you had to go because you have to go back up a hill to get back to
transition. I told you I was lazy right. Yeah you are starting to believe me
aren’t you.
Pre-race
meeting starts at 7:45am. We head over to the pool. The microphone system they
have is apparently owned by Chick-Fil-A because it is not open on Sunday. Race
director is attempting to talk to us. I can barely make out what she is saying.
I realize the swim is starting because the first group is lining up in the
pool. The pool looks so good. I just want to stay in it all day. Since my race
number is 302 I have some time before I start. We hang around and watch the
first swimmers. They move so gracefully and fast in the water. Before you know
the 1st swimmer is out, some teeny bopper. No I am not hating. It
was a teenager who came out first. I see the first female come out. I see the
first chip come out. Chip = a person of color. This comes from my fellow TIFL
& BTA sister Dawn Davis-Calhoun. I’m always on the lookout for the chips at
the race. Sharon finds some seats in the shade. Yes I will come take a seat in
the shade. Sharon knows me and heat do not get along well. More on that
combination later. This waiting process helps my pre-race jitters to calm down.
We see Alexis in the pool and Kathy. I walk over to see her swim. I’m noticed
the 200’s are in the pool. I head on over and get in the waiting area. I was
expecting the water to be cold. It felt so good. I told Cynthia why can’t we
just stay in the pool the entire race. Unfortunately, this is not a pool only
event L
We line up. She’s 300 and I’m 302. 301 must have gotten smart and stayed in the
bed, smart person. As we are in the water, a couple behind me ask me if this is
my first race. I’m like no this is my 5th TRI but first time doing
this one. They are amazed but they don’t give me the LOOK. You know the one I’m
talking about. Then they tell me they are runners and they just decided to sign
up. They were not prepared as they don’t even goggles. Did I mention they weren’t
wearing swim caps. Bless their little hearts.
The
swim portion is beginning. Cynthia goes first. Then I line up and the timer
tells me go. I push off and enjoy floating and then move into freestyle. I
remember what my swim coach told me long and smooth strokes. That’s what I do.
I was having breathing issues. It’s one of my weak areas in swimming. I didn’t
have any form of a panic attack like I did back in April at the indoor tri. I
didn’t even count how many lanes I had left. Just like Dory said “just keep
swimming just keep swimming.” On a SN: if you have not seen it yet, do yourself
a favor and go see Finding Dory. I will go with you because I enjoyed it just
that much. Baby Dory is just 2 cute for words. Back to the race. I’m about 25
meters from being done, I hear Candace tell me “Jo you only have 25 meters left
to the finish now show me some form you’re on video”. I’m almost done, woo
hoo!! Sweet baby jesus let’s knock this thing out. I swim to the end and I spot
the ladder and head to. Why am I having issues with using my legs to lift
myself out the water. Minor technical issue. I get out the pool. The tribe
spectators are there “jo you’re done next up is the bike” I head to transition
and find my spot. I attempt to put on dry cycling shorts over wet swimsuit. It
was pretty comical if I do say so myself. Bike helmet on. Socks and shoes on. I
have clips but opted to not try clipping in today as I am still learning that
process. Camelback on, nutrition in camelback. This is the one time I opted to
NOT bring my phone with me. That was a rookie move which I contemplated on
later. I head out with my bike. Volunteer tells me to watch out for the curb. I
head to the mount line. I am having some serious technical issues I have one
bike glove, for the life of me I cannot get the 2nd one on. I drop
it not once but twice and the very kind volunteer gets it for me. He asks if I have
ridden this course before. I tell him I tried to drive it yesterday but got
turned around. He tells me there are some hills and speed bumps in the
neighborhood so be aware. I get on my bike cross the street and can you believe
I cannot pedal. My bike is in torture gear. As I think back on this now, I should
have taken my bike for a spin around the neighborhood after I picked it up Friday
from Performance. Another rookie move. I am full of them today. You would have
thought this was my first tri and not my fifth one. The beginning of the course
goes up a slight hill and I am in the wrong gear and for the life of me I can’t
get out of it. I am working up this hill and it’s a struggle. There’s a picture
of me on facebook at this exact moment and my fascial expression tells it all.
I make it up the hill, I get my gears straight and I’m off. Why are my legs
already tired. Jesus take the wheel because this is going to be a struggle for
real. I’m rolling through Heritage. There are hills in this neighborhood and I am
reminded of preston with Le tour de Femme bike ride in October. I struggle up
the hills, if you know me this is serious progress. I would normally hop off
the bike and walk up. Not today I am trying to put the spin classes to use. I
make it through the neighborhood. Turn right onto Chalks. Here comes another
hill. I see Alexis heading back telling me to take that hill down. I don’t know
about you but I don’t get real encouraged when I’m on the bike course and other
folks are yelling stuff at me even if it is encouraging. It good be that my
PMA(positive mental attitude) was at -5000. What can I say I was not a happy
person on the bike course? Everyone who saw me felt it. I’m making my way on
Chalks and I’m thinking to myself isn’t this the road my ex-fiance’s mom lives
on. I pass a turn for a radio station and the next turn is for her house. I see
a sign that reads organic eggs, cage free. I’m like I don’t think she was into
farming but who knows. I’m like I know exactly where I am and this is about to
get real hilly because I can recall riding on this road. It does and I push on
through the hills. Whoever told me the bike course was flat was a LIAR and I’m
giving you serious side eye right now. I get to the intersection and turn left.
I pass Jones Dairy road the street I was on yesterday after I got turned around
trying to find the bike course. You really get to see a lot of Wake County when
you are out here on these lonely roads. I kept singing in my head “All by
myself, don’t wanna by all by myself”. I come to the next turn and make a
right. I’m getting real close to the turnaround. Thanks goodness. The hoo ha is
not happy with me. Neither am I. It’s hot out here. I’m ready to be done. I
really want to just go home and lay on my recliner. I start to accept the fact
that I will take a DNF on this race because I am just not feeling this race today.
In my head I had accepted the fact that this triathlon was going to become a duathlon
if I can just survive the rest of this bike course. When I feel a need for a
break from the saddle, I hop off the bike and walk. I hear a car approaching.
It’s the SAG wagon, they ask me if I’m ok. I’m like just took a break off the
bike. I get back on and I head towards the next intersection. I turn left.
Volunteer tells me it’s not that much farther to the turnaround. I pass mile 6.
This is a setup. The turnaround is past mile 6. I see the lonely course monitor
directing me to turnaround. I hop off the bike and get some nutrition out my
camelback and then get back on. 6 miles done and 6 miles to go. I think I can I
think I can. I head back and I turn right at the intersection. Thank the
volunteer and wake county sheriff. I keep on pushing. I pass mile 7. I get off
and walk some. SAG wagon pulls up and ask if I’m ok. i tell them I am and they
tell me they are back here if I need anything. When you are the end of the bike
course, you get your own personal escort the SAG wagon. I turn left at the next
turn. I notice the cops that were at the Chalks intersection are headed towards
me. I’m thinking is there no one at the turn. White dodge charger pulls up in
front of me with his blinkers. It’s a Raleigh PD. He leads me and SAG wagon
follows. Oh yeah I have my own entourage on the bike course. How I wish someone
could have taken a picture. We all turn right onto Chalks. There is some
downhill. The charger sees me lower my head because I am embracing the downhill
and rolling about 19 MPH. I struggle uphill but downhill in the words of
Ludacris “move get out the way” The charger picks up speed so I don’t run into
the back of him. I head to the very last turn, hallejuah. Make the left and I’m
back in the lovely heritage neighborhood with their wonderful hills and speed
bumps. A complete random stranger rides up to me and starts talking to me.
Tells me he lives in the neighborhood but he’s not doing the race. We come to a
hill, he gives me a push and tells me he and his wife bike all the time. He does
the same thing for her to help her up the hill. Thank you random stranger
because you my brother our my HERO today. There is another hill and speed bump.
I make it up it. We pass the golf club. We head back to the race site. I have
never been so happy in my life. When I passed mile 11 I got real emotional
because very honestly I didn’t think I was going to make it. I cross over
heritage lake and dismount. Barbara stone-newton is there rooting me on. 1 of
the FS series guys comes over to me congratulating me on finishing the bike
course. Then he tells me has some bad news, they are opening the roads on the
run course and unfortunately I’m going to be able to do the run. I tell him you
say that like it’s a bad thing. In my head I was already out after the bike
course. I head to transition, drop my bike. I see a few of the tribe and tell
me that what they said. Then I go ask another FS official if I go do the run
course on my own will I still get the medal. 1 more FS official and race
director later I am given the green light. I go put on my visor and race belt,
grab my powerade, suck it up buttercup because you are about to do this. I head
out on the run course. I pass the tribe who is chilling in the shade. Yes that
is hate you have detected. I wanted to be chilling in the shade as well. Oh
well that’s the life of a turtle. I’m walking on the course. I hear some shoes
flopping behind me. You know what it is. It’s the sound of an angel named
Heather Leigh who is coming to walk with me. I’m so glad to have the company.
We walk the course together. We admire the gorgeous homes in the neighborhood.
The SAG wagon passes us to check on us a few times and to make sure we’re still
on the course. Heather tells me she came with me because she heard someone was
giving out beer and doughnuts on the course. We found doughnut pieces on the
ground but we never found the house. The mile markers have been removed so I have
no idea how far we’ve gone. I see another hill and I’m ready to turn back. We
head back. I am so over these HILLS. I thought the bike course was disrespectful.
I knew the run course was hilly with no shade. The run course was what I had
been worried about for weeks. I kept drinking from camelback and alternating
with the powerade. We turn back onto heritage lake. We see Alexis riding
towards us on her bike. She tells us she brought me some water but I have my
camelback. She tells us she will ride back to tell the rest of the tribe I’m
almost done. We pass by the parking lot that was reserved for race parking. I tell
heather ain’t no way I was parking there and then climbing the hill to the race
site. We climb the hill and we make it to the 2nd to last turn.
Volunteer tells us we have 1 more turn and we’re done. The last turn has a
slight incline to it. We push on up this hill. Angela is still on the corner. I
tell Heather I guess the rest of the tribe rolled out. As we get closer, the
course monitor yells out “jo you go this, you’re almost done” I tell her I am
done. She replies back no once you make it across the finish line then you will
be well done. I laugh. I make that left and the McDougal family is there
waiting. Kimberly is at the finish line with her phone. The timing mat is still
up. The clock is still up. They haven’t shut down yet. I cross the finish
line. I am officially DONE DONE.
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