TX3 Kemah Triathlon

Results:
500 Meter Swim Time: 14:12 Pace 2:50
T1 3:05
12 Mile Bike Time 41:57, Pace 17.2
T2 1:12
5K Run Time 26:44, Pace 8:37
Total time 1:27

Swim: This was my first wave start swim, and my first OWS in salt water. The only way to describe how I felt going into this swim is FEAR. We had to walk down a ramp to get into the bay, and then line up behind the start buoys. I was as the back of the group, and was still running to the start buoys when they started the wave. I dove in and immediately felt my Garmin band loosen up and come off. I stopped, put it back on, took a few more strokes and it came off. I did this 3 times and realized it was not going to stay on. I didn't want to lose it, so I held it in my hand the entire swim. I made it to the first buoy (100 meters) and thought about getting out. I was struggling to swim holding the band, I kept hitting and getting hit by other swimmers, and I was starting to panic. I had read that you you panic during the swim, you should think of something else to take your mind off the panic. So I thought about my daughter, and how the night before she had fallen asleep next to me holding my finger in her tiny hand. And I tried to find the feeling of peace that I felt as I drifted off to sleep hand in hand with my little girl.  Then I willed myself to just make it to the next buoy, and alternated breastroke and freestlye strokes. As the course turned back toward the shore. I realized the faster I swam the sooner I would be out of the water, the fear went away, and  I was able to get a good rythm going for the second half of the swim.  The first thing I saw when I stood up were the three smiling faces of my family sitting on the grass above the water.

T1: Best part of T1 were the wetsuit strippers. Worst part of T1 was the long distance from the swim exit to actually get to my bike.  I didn't want to run too fast and risk slipping and falling.

 Bike: I loved the bike course, it was straight and flat. No wind at all, just a slight breeze.  I felt as though it was easier for me to pass people in this race because I had a better idea of how fast to go, and was less concerned about getting a penalty . Forgot to turn on the Garmin until I was already out on the highway, so my goal from that point was to keep my average speed around 18. There were two other ladies that I kept playing leapfrog with the entire race, they would pass me, and then I would catch up and pass them.  There were a couple of men that tried to speed up as I was passing them, but for the most part the bike went smoothly. I think I could still have gone faster, but I wanted to save my legs for the run. It was the first race in bike shoes and it was a little strange to run out and back in to transition in them.

T2: changing shoes didn't take as long as I thought it would.

Run: This was the best part of the race for me. Running is my strongest area of the three, and the one I like the best. ( which is the reason I held on to that band the entire miserable swim, so I could put my Garmin on and know my pace during the run).  It was humid, and I was having a little trouble breathing, but overall the run went great. I started off pretty fast, but had to slow down a little after the first mile. The course took us through a neighborhood, and there was a man driving his car through the run course. Perhaps he missed the big orange cones and race signs. The second mile took us through the Kemah Boardwalk which gave us a great view of the bay . And then on the third mile my Garmin started going haywire.  It was showing a much slower pace than what I was actually running. I kept speeding up, and my pace time didn't budge. I was pretty exhausted by the last half mile, and felt like I was working pretty hard to be running as slowly as it said. After crossing the finish line I noticed that it hadn't measured the full 3.1 mile distance either. So I was pretty when my actual time and pace were posted. My feet however were not happy.  Blisters and chafing from running in my Nikes. They are great for training, but not for racing. I'll wear my Kinvaras next time.

I hit my time goals on the bike, did better than my goal for the run and fell short on the swim. Intially I was dissapointed with my swim, but when I looked out at the bay the next morning and realized that I had done it and didn't give up, I was proud of myself.  I'm planning to put a lot more time into swimming for TriWaco and practice in the lake much more often to comfortable in open water. I'm not so concerned about speed right now, just improving my stroke and form. And I'm putting another open water race on my calendar for June.  I am also ordering a new band for my Garmin. The velcro is completely worn out, which is why it didn't hold together in the water.

Tri4Him: A huge thanks to the Tri4Him group from Houston. The Reeves were out there to support everyone for both days of the race, and invited the out of town racers to their house for dinner on Saturday. We had a great time with them, and really enjoyed the food and fellowship.  I am so thankful to be a part of the Tri4Him community.