Newbie no more

All done! I survived, conquered and completed my first ever triathlon!!!!  This a photo of me about 15 mins before the start. I was terrified - it was all new territory and I didn't have a bloody clue what I was in for.

Well, that's not quite true. I've read about 10 triathlon books, numerous magazines, blogs, websites, email lists, etc - but nothing actually prepares you for the madness that is your first tri, better than actually getting out there and doing one that really doesn't matter in the grand scheme of your future "triathlon career" (other than it being the first one you do, of course, which is always special and you will never forget!).

I arrived at the event nice and early, like with over an hour to spare. I needed it; I had to rack my bike, lay out all my gear, figure out what order to lay it out on, etc. I read somewhere that taking a big bright beach towel and sticking it under your bike is helpful for finding your bike later. I'd divided my stuff into three bags (one for each section) and had put my bottles on my bike and my bike in the car the night before. Gold.

The pros started to arrive with their gear in their plastic crates and their wetsuits and $10,000 full carbon bikes. I started to get nervous. What the heck was I doing here again? I felt like an impostor, who would soon be found out while out on the course. I wasn't sure I wanted to look like a dork, but then I figured there were plenty of other newbies in my boat around...somewhere!

I was pretty freaked by the time the race briefing kicked off (late) and they announced they had changed the run course. Apparently someone didn't check it earlier and hadn't found that the pedestrian bridge at Mission Bay was closed (and has been for months, I might add). Epic planning fail!

I had the good sense to bring my wonderful friend and PT client Elizabeth with me, to help out and help celebrate, plus make sure I actually got in the water, out of the water, on the bike and out on the run course (and didn't bunk off home!). This was of course also just in case my trainer didn't turn up, which he didn't. Oh yeah, and somebody needed to take the photos!

The swim was pretty ordinary. I nearly missed the start of the swim and had to sprint to it, so was off on the wrong foot from the word go. I was only wearing a tri suit, no wetsuit, so had the buoyancy of a stone. I felt like I was swimming through porridge. I was the last one into the water, and the last one out, but I did it. Game on!

Leaving the water and running up the beach to transition, I stood on something sharp and my toe complained. I didn't have time to stop so I ignored it and carried on. I got back to where I'd racked my bike (just inside the bike start/finish - clever), grabbed the bottle of water I'd packed and washed the sand off my feet (double clever). I managed to remember to dry my feet a bit before shoving my moisture-wicking socks on, but apparently not well enough.

I took a little too long in the swim to bike transition, because despite laying out my gear out nicely. I think it was just because the panic was starting to set in (from inexperience). I had the benefit of the tri suit and elastic laces, and with not yet having shoes and cleats, there was no second shoe change. But the extra time came from a lack of focus and a small panic attack :-). I must practice transitions in training again, as clearly once was not enough.

I thought the bike leg was fantastic. I was passing people, but felt bad when I passed a lady whose chain had broken. She just stuck it back together with something and carried on! By the time I hit St Heliers turnaround, the pros were starting to lap me. Ugh! It was really disconcerting to have people with full carbon bikes and disc wheels sneaking up on you! There was a lot of broken glass on the road, so instead of looking at the marvellous scenery, I had to spend my time looking at the road in front of my bike for puncture-inducing obstacles.

Sadly, about 500m out of Mission Bay on the first leg of the bike, my toe started to complain. I have those silly rubber cage things on my pedals, and my running shoes are a little big for them so they don't fit in properly. My toe continued to complain for the rest of the event, but I ignored it and carried on. We screamed back through Mission Bay and out to the second turnaround, just before Ngapipi Road.

I passed a few more people, which was awesome, including some pros with with full carbon bikes and disc wheels who were sitting on the side of the road changing punctures. I did feel sorry for one until he lapped me and yelled at me to get out of his ******* way. I was so close to the kerb I could have BMX-tricked my way up onto it, so how much more of the damn road did the guy need?

I headed back to transition feeling pretty good (aside from the snaggle toe).  Sneaky Elizabeth got a couple of photos - here they are:

I racked my bike and took off - forgetting I still had my helmet on when I was about to take off through transition on the run. LOL!!! Some guy yelled out "hey newbie, you still have your helmet on you moron". He got a rude hand gesture as I flew back to transition to remove it. I then forgot my run cap, but remembered to grab my Mizone off the bike. I suppose the helmet thing was a newbie mistake, or perhaps a silent testament to how comfy Avanti helmets are!

Finally taking off on the run, I felt pretty good, considering the pain in my toe. I walked the first 200m to give my legs a chance to catch up, then ran in short bursts like Forest Gump due to the toe pain. Shortly before the run turnaround just past Okahu Bay, I felt a pop in that toe. Shizzle, it was a blister, and it just got worse. I tried to ignore it and carry on but I was soon reduced to fast walking (or waddling) and I wanted to save whatever was in the tank for running across the finish line. I didn't have time to take off my shoe and deal with it, so I just hardened up and carried on.

By the last 400 metres there was a smile on my dial the size of Texas. I was so stoked! I was actually going to finish this thing, and not just that, I had no clue what my time was. I had forgotten to set the chronograph on my watch at the swim start. Meh - at that point I didn't care, it was all about finishing. The support from random people on the run course was awesome, it's so nice having people who don't know you from Adam telling you that you're doing well and to keep going, it's not much further!

I got to within sighting distance of the event area and started to run. I ran around the fountain, along the beach walkway, through the gate and up the ramp. Job done! I was stoked, and it instantly started to feel like I hadn't done it! I felt great, but it was time for a couple of photos, stretches, a banana and a latte. Priorities!

My time was within the range I had in my head yesterday. I had originally wanted to do it in under 45 mins but that was before learning (thanks to an Ironman friend of mine) that your time in transition is counted in with your race time. I nearly had a coronary, then decided to let it go. I re-jigged and decided that 45 mins to 60 mins would be fine.

My final time? 56 mins, 1 second.


I Loved the experience, I was bloody stoked to finish with a huge smile (mission accomplished), had fun and will soooo do more! And I was last in my age group, ha ha ha!!! I wasn't last overall in my distance though, so that was awesome.

I had a great time, aside from the blister. When I did finally get home after stopping at the gym to skite and stretch a little more, and took off my shoe, I finally got to see the owie blister. It wasn't good. It was pure evil and an absolute nightmare to walk on. Ugh!

I patched myself up, watched Home and Away, had breakfast and then had a hard-earned nap.

Job done, so will debrief you all later!