Tinman Triathlon!

Sunday, July 23rd, 2006

Today, I did the Tinman! I am a triathlete! On the way over, I prayed for no accidents and no flat tires. Not walking on the run and coming in under my predicted time (3 hours) would be bonuses, but no big deal. I got everything I ever hoped for and more. My race went better than I could have imagined. No accidents, no flats, no walking (except through the three aid stations as I have not yet mastered the art of drinking while running), and nine minutes under the time I was shooting for!

I was up around 2:50AM and left the house at 3:30. The race packet said parking would be scarce. They lied. Just after 4, I pulled into the lot we go to all the time for our training days, and it was wide open. Maybe 10 cars were there of about 150 or so stalls. Check in was from 4 to 5:30, so I imagine it filled up not too long after though.

By 4:30, I had managed to get someone to write my number on me and went into the bike area. I got a great spot on my wave's rack right at the end of the rack. It was right in front of the chute that we run through after the swim, so no searching for my bike. I set up my stuff and mentally went through my transitions a few times to make sure I had everything laid out right. I did the standard bathroom run and then got my timing chip from the race organizers.

I was feeling a little uptight at this point, so I lathered on the sunscreen, tucked my swim cap and goggles into my swim top strap, and taking part of a pb&j sandwich, headed for the beach. At this point it was still an hour from my start time at 6:05. I was in the last wave, and happy for it. It was still completely dark, and the idea of swimming in darkness wasn't one I relished, so being last gave the sun a chance to come up. Also, there wouldn't be anyone left to pass me and bum me out. It's all good.

I sat down and leaned against a coconut tree and looked at the ocean. The sky was clear and the water calm. In the darkness, the lights of Waikiki twinkled along the shoreline curving out to the right. It was just beautiful. It seemed that everyone was in their own world, very little conversation, so all was quiet. It struck me again how lucky I am to live here.

After a while more and more people congregated there, and eventually I saw some people I knew. We all talked story for a bit and faster than I would have imagined, the first group was getting in the water. These were the elite athletes along with men 20-30 years old. I never even heard the start, it turns out it was being done by a guy with a bull horn. You don't hear him unless you're in the water. Odd. Anyway, suddenly, the water turned into one of those "piranha" scenes you see in cheesy movies. It started to boil and thrash as they all started to swim. Visually, very entertaining. I was amazed at the speed at which some of these guys can cover 800m. In about 8 and a half minutes, the first guy was dashing out of the water while most of the pack was still at the half-way point.

The crowds parted to let the competitors dash into the chute towards the bike rack. At one point, a couple of guys swung wide and came out way to the side of the chute and the crowd had to point them in the right direction. I guess the leader of that small group didn't sight things quite right and the others just followed him. When he started up the sand, he looked up, saw the crowd (and no chute) and look of befuddlement passed over his face for a second until he took the hint of the people pointing to the side and he dashed off.

One wave at a time, all my friends and training partners went in until eventually I was alone, with a bunch of other people in black caps. This was the 30-34 women along with relays. Excepting a few guys who must have been doing relays, it was all women. The guys made a few comments about how fortunate their circumstances were. We made our way into the water and I was amazed at how warm it was. I've swum at Queen's beach at all different times of the day, and it's always been on the cold side and at least a little murky. Today was perfect. It was like bathwater, and so clear. You could see every detail on the bottom.

The bullhorn announced the one-minute warning, then started the ten second countdown where I started my watch timer, and then we were off. The swim went about as well as could be expected considering it's my first time in a large group start. Since swimming isn't my strong suit, I positioned myself near the back of the pack. I didn't really get kicked, but we all felt each other up a bit before we spread out some. I think I finished somewhere in the middle, but I didn't look back as I ran out of the water and up the beach. I was stripping off my cap and goggles when I saw mom and dad, which was cool as I wasn't sure if they had come (Mike wasn't there as he had to work).

Did my first transition without a hitch and started to dash for the bike exit when I had to grind to a halt for mom to take a picture. I wasn't too happy about that at the time, but I was sure happy about it later (details to come). Out on the bike course, I initially didn't feel too strong. I was heading into the wind down Kalanianaole when I thought maybe I was hungry. So I put a piece of pb&j into my mouth and promptly gagged. Hmmm, that was unexpected, but I persevered and eventually managed to swallow, and...all was well. Don't know why it didn't want to go down, but once in its destination, it was soon converted to fuel.

I went along the course and eventually made my way up heartbreak hill and at the top I caught a second wind. Suddenly, I felt great. I blazed down the hill and started picking people off one by one. One girl tried to pass me back, but I caught her and never saw her again. The return trip was a blast, I don't know why the first half was so whimpy, but I'd rather get better over the course rather than weaken. In what seemed like no time at all, I was heading into the bike chute. I jumped off and started to run, and then there were gumby legs. It seemed that my legs lost all bone structure for a moment and just decided to do whatever they felt like. Ok...so I walked quickly for a few steps and then they were fine again and I dashed off, pausing for another gritted-teeth photo.

2 minutes or so later (and another photo stop) I was out on the run. The run starts with a loop around the zoo and then a left from Paki onto Monserrat which is basically a big long uphill. Oddly enough, I remember almost nothing about going around the zoo. I know I did it, but other than a tiny recollection of some volunteers on a corner, it's like it never happened. The hill on the other hand, I can't forget. It looms above you and your tired legs. So, looking down like an ostrich putting its head in the sand, I labored up the hill. This wasn't going well, but I know this hill always sucks for me and I get better once over the top. Sure enough, at the top of the hill, I hit the first aid station and was soon on the downhill.

Around now I got a decent rhythm and I think my pace increased throughout the run. Even going up diamond head was no big deal and I was able to pass quite a few people, which gave me more motivation. Then you finally hit the corner of Kapiolani park and your brain screams "It's not fair, I'm at the park, I should be done...Where the HELL is that finish line?!" Eventually you round a corner and there it is, so you accelerate (ok, it was imperceptible, I'm sure, but it felt like it), and soon, I was done and someone was molesting my ankle to steal my timing chip.

I walked into the finishers area and the runner who had finished just in front of me leaned over and started heaving. I'm not sure if that means she had a good race or not, but I got out of there rather quickly. The rest of the morning was spent comparing stories and we had a post-race party in the afternoon. I finally went to sleep at 9 last night and slept for 10 hours straight.

The aftermath: My timing chip was defective...AAAAAAAAHHHHHHH. Not happy. They lost all my times except my final overall. Here's where the pictures came into play, each one had a timestamp, and as she took pictures before and after my bike and run sections, I can calculate within 20 seconds or so my times. So here's what I got:

Overall: 2:51:40.9
Swim (800m) and T1: 19:30
Bike (40k): 1:27
T2: 2:10
Run (10k): 1:03

All in all, it was a good day. I don't know what I would have done differently, and as for my first triathlon, I'm very happy with how it all went. Of course, it didn't take me five minutes after crossing the finish line before I started thinking about how I can improve for next year. One year ago I was being a couch potato, and I just finished a triathlon. It's shocking to me, but I'm sure happy about it.