Echo Triathlon July 9, 2016

Well... today was a race day that I hadn't expected.


Triathlon is such a tricky sport.  I guess you could say that about any sport, but it's especially tricky when you're dealing with three separate disciplines.  Swim, bike, run.  For most, the swim is the most difficult part.  And that's what I really struggled with today.

I signed up for the Echo Triathlon Olympic Distance race awhile back, to help me get training for Tempe 70.3.  I knew I'd be ready for it, but after getting sick after Daybreak Tri last month, my training suffered a bit, and my sleep has been suffering as of late with all the schedule changes and other activities we had going on. I knew that even if I wasn't totally physically prepared, I could usually rely on my mental grit to get me through any obstacle. Just not today.



I got to the reservoir yesterday to help volunteer and then camp overnight.  The weather was nice, but later in the evening, the sun started to beat down on us while we were helping at packet pickup.

Race Registration Crew.

I got dinner with Valery around 8pm.  There were maybe two restaurants still open by that time.  I was parched.  When I got back to camp, it was getting dark, and somewhat cool.  We triathletes got in bed around 10:30pm.  Unfortunately for me, the family who was camping at the same site in which I got set up, decided to come back and start S'mores before bed.  Not to mention, they had their music playing.  I tried to get to sleep, but I don't think I really got restful sleep until they went to bed (somewhere around midnight).  Then my body woke up at 1:30am, with some really loud guys, and then again at 4:15am.  I was able to get about 45 more minutes of sleep before my 5:00am alarm.

I then got my gear packed up and headed over to transition, making a pit stop at the Port-O-Potties.  I got my transition area together afterward and realized, on a few occasions, that I had forgotten one thing or another.  I made the short hike back to my campsite a few times before getting everything together.  And then it was time to get on the wetsuit and head to the water. 

Mary and I.  Love this girl!

The race started about 20 minutes late, so I got in the water to try and warm up.  The water temperature felt great, but it was super choppy!  I'm now used to distance, murkiness, and cold, but being the still weak swimmer that I am, choppy water is not my friend.  I started to have my doubts, and my anxiety set in.  I tried to laugh it off and keep a positive attitude, but once I got in and started my wave, it didn't get any better.  I could feel the wind on the water, which made it difficult for me to breathe, and I couldn't catch my breath.  I had to stop multiple times, and I caught and swallowed water with the waves.  On the stretch back to the buoy toward the second loop, you couldn't see anything with the bright sun.  I attempted to make the second loop.  I've done it before, and I'm usually stubborn and have too much pride to let this kind of thing stand in my way.  But, an asthma attack ensued and I started wheezing.  Should I attempt to finish anyway?  Should I call it quits here?  Thank goodness for Isley (the lifeguard kayaker, also pictured in my registration crew above) for allowing me to hang out with him for awhile.  I was just so exhausted that the far buoy just felt daunting, especially with my breathing not calming down.  I finally made the decision to call it quits, and Isley pulled me back to shore.

I felt sick and dizzy when I got to the shore.  Coach Heather was there, and told me to go on the bike anyway.  Dan, the RD, told me to do the same (after turning in my chip).  But when I got to transition, I just felt off.  I wanted to go for the ride anyway, and just finish with the DNF, but it took me quite some time to feel oriented enough to get on my bike.  When I did, I decided to just ride the sprint course.  My legs were heavy with the false flat course (which Utah is known for).  Even with that short 12 mile ride, it was just such a weird feeling.  My body was present, but I didn't feel like I was present.  And with that, I decided to forego the run when I got back to transition (not to mention the headache I felt starting behind my eyes).  Instead, I headed back to the finish line area and met up with my team. 

I chatted with my teammate, Andrew, who is also the Chiropractor for our team (and who helps out with post race massages after the races).  I told him that I didn't finish and pulled myself out of the swim.  "Today just wasn't the day," I told him.  And we discussed how sometimes it's better to do so than to try and power through it.  Endurance athletes are known for their mental toughness and the grit to power through.  Sometimes though, doing so just isn't worth it, especially when there are bigger races at stake.  And it takes courage to realize that.  Sometimes powering through and getting injured sets you back from the goal you really want to achieve.  As much as I wanted to finish, I was okay with my decision. 

So now I stand with two DNF's where I physically did not finish my race... my first triathlon - Escape from Fort Delaware Triathlon and today's race (I've had one other, but it was only because the timing mats were already pulled, but I physically finished the race). 

But there are always lessons to be learned in any given experience.  What we do with those experiences are up to us.  Just  because I DNF'ed doesn't mean I'm giving up.  There was a time where I would have beat myself up and felt so much shame because of that stamp next to my name and would have wanted to give up (remember that, Brook?), but not anymore.  I've learned, since running my first triathlon 9 years ago, that these types of situations can help strengthen one mentally.  Failure can lead to success in the future, if you want it bad enough.  A DNF won't ever stop me from trying.  It's all about picking yourself back up and showing up again.  Remember... DLF>DNF>DNS.

Thank you, Marie, for putting a smile on my face today, and sharing your stories with me!  I'm so inspired by you!  ;)

And thank you Valery, for being so uplifting and encouraging!  I'm so glad we're friends!