This is my first 1000 meter open water swim race. This is the race that I will see if I can do more than what I did at KC tri but also not have several panic moments like I did at KC tri. Learning to swim in general as an adult is hard and that’s just swimming in a pool. Open water however changes how you swim in the pool. Sighting has not been my main focus in my swimming so far which may have an impact on today so a little more breast stroke to help gage my placement in the stream of people maybe needed. I kind of decided to do this race last minute but since a lot of Reds were doing it I felt better about tackling this distance in swimming especially using my wetsuit.
Now this race is in Topeka so not super close to KC so I had to go on Friday to pickup my pack and then drive back Sat morning for the race having worked Friday night at Apple and then will work Sat afternoon at Apple (not a very good decision for the night before for sure). The traffic coming back Friday was crazy due to a large accident but I barely made it to Apple before my shift started at 5pm. I was able to view the water course a little and the water looked very calm and over all a nice area to race. The run I knew from others wasn’t fun and based on the weather so far this summer was going to be a hot one. Most Olympic races are either 1000 or 1500 meter swims and based on that number indicates if the other two parts will be longer or short. This race however the swim was 1000 but the run was almost 7.5 miles. Basically the run was around the entire lake which in the middle of June on a hot Sat morning that didn’t sound great but not horrible. This however would so become one of the longest 7.5 miles I have ever done.
Driving Sat morning wasn’t the best idea but traffic wasn’t existent and I put my foot to the medal. Luckily I don’t like a lot of time in transition so I knew I would be one of the later one to arrive. I got setup found a pump to borrow (I really need to get one of my own) and looked around to see if anyone was crazy like me and wearing their wetsuit. It was warm almost two warm but I wanted to wear my wetsuit for this race for a lot of reasons but mainly I didn’t really trust myself yet to swim 1000 meters with out it. David G a was there with the kiddos who were cheering for Michelle and the rest of the Reds. There were only a few of us doing the Olympic vs the Sprint race which was great because honestly wasn’t sure how long this race would take. I never had done a swim this long before and was beyond a “little nervous.”
The race started and luckily made age group was one of the last to got into the water. This was a smaller race as well, especially in the Olympic group which started about 45 mins before the Sprint. There were only probably 20 or 30 people in my age group and only a few in wetsuits but I didn’t care. My goal was to finish adn ideally not seek assistance. Not that seeking help is bad, seriously but my goal as been to get less and less dependent on the help and overcome my issues with open water. If you have ever had a panic attack, even not in water, you know what I am talking about but imagine having that in open water where you can’t stand or regain your composure safely. I have really gotten better about this and the wetsuit is like my “thunder suit” that dogs have for fear of thunder but you just never know what race day will bring emotionally much less Mother Nature wise.
I got into the water and initially just walked and got used to the very luke warm water. I started to swim, inserting breast stroke and let the swimmers that were faster in my group get around me and get some space to deal with my issues. I was in good space over all, the swim itself was very calm and the markers were well laid out. I could see that immediately I was the last swimmer, again not really an issue for me but I kept going. A nice guy in the blue sit upon kayak was keeping a close eye on me, or at least I felt he was. I was slow but I was moving and doing good. I hadn’t really figuring out sighting so I was using the breast stroke to keep aware of my location in the water. Sometimes I was away off and had to reroute myself and get back on course. I have to get this under control before Augusta and Vineman though, I can’t waste this time doing the breast stroke but again this wasn’t about that yet. I thought for sure I was the only person in the water at this point. I was mentally okay with that and just kept going. The nice volunteer stayed with me and it was nice having a personal escort. I sadly used him more for sighting options than for more support but again that was also another mental win.
At this point I was sure that all the sprint swims were done given how long it too me to swim this longer distance (sprint was really short, like 400 meters vs mine was 1000 and probably 1200 due to my navigating skills). I was so excited when I got out of the water, I knew I was the last one but it didn’t matter. I did it, I saw 1000 meters in open water. I looked around and didn’t see anyone I knew until I started running up the hill to head to my bike and there was Daivd Gillespie and his iPhone! Come to find out Michelle had told David to “stay here until Angela gets out the water.” It’s was great though seeing a familiar face as I came out and headed to the bike. Addy come to find out was also watching and informed us later that I was NOT the last one out of the water, which was a bigger plus in my mind. At this point, my goal was reached, the rest of the race especially the bike, was just practice. I had accomplished what I wanted today. I had overcome something that honestly I wasn’t sure how it would turn out. I wasn’t going to get a medal for my swim but I gave myself a personal medal though for my swimming achievement. Now, to the bike and the lovely heat.
I forgot my Campbell back on the ride and realized this about half a mile out and although I probably should have gone back due to issues that I had later, I didn’t and just moved forward. I had water but here would not be any water support on this 20 mile bike ride which the heat was rising as I was pedaling. I really didn’t see anyone nor did I expect too since I was the last few out of the water and again most of the reds did the sprint race vs the Olympic. The ride isn’t wasn’t horrible initially then came this crazy though patch of road. I was surprised that people were not having issues on this road, it was really rough especially knowing triathletes with their small narrow wheels were coming to ride on this but I didn’t encounter any flat tires thus far. So I keep riding, again I wasn’t going for super speed since I know I have a run to also complete and then I have a duathlon on Sunday for Corporate challenge. Two tri’s in one weekend, back to back days sound like a bad idea even for crazy me! I was in my own head space, thinking and living off my recent amazing swim accomplishment when pop, yes the sound you hope you never hear during a race, much less a training ride. I knew what had happened, yes to me, in the middle of the race and in the heat, I had a flat tire & one my REAR tire, yes the worst. I knew I needed to pull over, that it wasn’t going to get better and so I pulled off the road. This is a two lane road, no shoulder and really no flat area.
I wasn’t happy, who ever is, but also I was out in the middle of no where Topeka and no cell phone. Yep, Ironman Races and other triathlons don’t usually allow your phones. Now honestly at this point I have no idea if I could have had my phone but I was at mile 11 and it wasn’t going to do me any good. I figured I might encounter someone sooner or later but sadly I didn’t. I got my kitchen out of my new spare tire changer and spread out all my items. My shoes were stuck into the ground since there wasn’t a place to stand or work that wasn’t in the grass. I got the back wheel off and loosened the tire to get the tub out. I followed all of Charely’s tire changing suggestions but it was really hot outside and I was getting super frustrated. I felt like time was flying by this flat was taking for ever. I keep praying someone would come by from the race to help me out but sadly not. Finally got the new tub aired up and now the fun part getting it back on the bike. This went smoothly than other times in the past that usually requires Charley to put it on. Cleaned my shoes, packed up my repair kit and was defiantly ready to get back on my bike. Off I went, I didn’t even want to know how long I stayed to fix that tire but sadly I would get to do it again in less than 3 miles.
Yes, I have another flat tire but there was no pop this time but I could tell from how my tire road on the road and I was feeling way too much. So, I pulled over, this section of road was a little better for a break down. I knew I was close but still about 4-5 miles out and I had no desire to walk that far even if I wanted to stop race, to quit (ok probably not) I still had to get back. I was out of tubes I don’t care more than 1 but I thought I remembered I had a patch kit. Yes, a patch kit but I honestly wasn’t sure how to use one. I know Charley showed me like a year and a half ago but I wasn’t thinking very clearly at this point so I made a judgement call. I remember thinking I should just google or YouTube this but sadly no device. I took the wheel off again, and this time took the new tube off. I figured it was probably a pinch flat due to my less than superior tire changing option. However I can’t afford for this to happen again this race as I still had 7.5 miles to run too unless I decided to give up, to quit. I took out the old tube and aired it up a little and then determine where the hole or shredded area of the tube was. I found it and bega to sand down the area to apply the glue and then the patch. I figure patching an area that wasn’t on the wall was probably my best bet. I just needed to get back to the start, so maybe 4-5 miles. This really took a lot long because I didn’t know how long to wait and dind’t want to in patch not dry long enough and then fail again.
I made a decision and got on my bike and just decided to go for it. I made to back tot he bike, passing MIchelle on the run and realized she was almost done and I still had 7.5 miles to run, yikes. I made it back to the transition area and threw my bike on the rack grabbed my iPad and stuff and headed out on the course. I kind of whish at this point I was doing the 5k versa a 7.5 miles. I started running, again it was super hot at this point. Limited shade and no one out on the course with me at all, lovely. I had my music, fuel and water but wasn’t sure where the next few water stations were. This heat is really bad up at this time of day and do to my mental status but I wasn’t to finish. I was at the half way point wondering if everyone had left let and if anyone would be at the finish line. I keep hydrated and poured water on me a few times to keep cool. I passed mile 6 which morally for most onlympics you are done but not here. The race said 7 but I know my wathces had 7.5 and my teammates also had that reading on their Garmin watches which wasn’t helping with the mental issues I was facing now. I had one mile to go, just one mile. The people at the last aid station were very nice but we’re ready for me and others to finish so they could great down.
I could here the announcer in the back group, just up a hil and I would be done. I wasn’t sure what to expect, I was anticipating getting texts indicating where the team had gone for lunch etc since I took for EVER. Yet, they were there, they waited, of course they did, but seriously I would have totally understood if they couldn’t. Tepeka is a little bit of a drive from KC. I remember telling Tammy I had two flat tires as I was running down the race shoot and thanked them for staying as I knew it was now almost noon. Yet I waned that medal, that feeling of accomplishment and knowing that I could overcome open water swimming (at least at 1000 meters) and changing 2 flat tires. We loaded up our bikes and walked a long way back to our cars and headed for some much deserved lunch @ Chipotle. At this point I didn’t care what we ate but I defiantly wanted some not in the sun and some cold, such as a Diet Coke. I know, don’t judge but that’s what I was craving. I was so lucky the group stay to watch me finish this race and get my medal. Come to find out several folks including our own Tammy got an AG award! So tire and proud all at the same time. Now what am I going to feel like after an ironman? Yikes!
bicyclegirlkc 