Life Is An Adventure: September 2021

Lake Stevens Olympic Triathlon Race Report

Swim: .93 miles- Bike: 24.8 miles -Run: 6.2 miles

I love going to events like this right in my backyard! Lake Stevens Triathlon is one of my favorites since I get to see and race with lot a people and friends I know. So fun to be able to race on the same course that I have been training on for years.

I got to North Cove downtown Lake Stevens and got my bike into transition area early to be able to pick my position on the bike rack with the prime spot on the end so to give plenty of room to spread out my stuff and easy to get my bike off and on. The atmosphere today was great! People are excited to race and happy to be there. The weather is good and with high clouds and sunshine starting to come in with the morning air.

The swim is two loops in North Cove with a deep water start. (Which means that you are at the start just floating in the water then GO! vs from shore and run in) It takes me 5-10 minutes to feel comfortable with the mayhem of the start of a race. My heart rate sores. My arms feel heavy and my breathing feels hard. I tell myself, “This is normal”. I can feel the panic starting. “This is normal Sheryl”, I tell myself again. I need to let it do its thing and just swim. I say my mantra over and over. Then, all is fine and I can race. One loop then two and out of the water and to transition to my bike. The swim felt good and I felt fast.

Running to get my bike, one of my teammates placed a pan of fresh water out to step in to clear the sand from your feet. Great idea Bob!! Thanks! At my bike, wetsuit is half off already. Goggles off. Swim cap off. Rest of suit off but having trouble with getting my feet out! I sit down and tug them free. I take a towel and dry my feet, sorta, and put on socks. They didn’t go on well and were a bit bunched up in places! Bike shoes on. Sunglasses on. Helmet on. Standing up and away I go!

I hear cheering from people yelling my name! Thanks! I see a couple I used to go to CrossFit with who are now rowers and volunteering with the LS Rowing Club. Thanks for helping out guys! Out on the road I take a wrong turn out of downtown but end up in same place a couple blocks later. Bummer but no big deal. (Note to self: DO NOT FOLLOW OTHERS) When I turn left towards where I should come out, I ride by a police officer directing traffic and mentioned that I should have come from that way. He says, “Yup!” No worries and no more wrong turns. I was just excited!

The ride was great! Beautiful day in the Pacific NW and mild temperatures. It’s an out and back course heading to my house! I anticipate all the hills as well as the declines where I can rest my legs for a bit after pushing so hard. There are some folks outside on their driveway cheering us on about 10 miles in and before the turn around. Way out there. So nice to hear cowbells!

I have been talking to a health coach who has helped me to get passed the hard effort on the bike where I feel I can not ride hard anymore and let up on myself. It worked! I pushed passed the thing in my head telling me that I was riding too hard and I needed to slow down and take it easy. No way! I needed push myself and see what I can do. I kept telling myself that this feeling was normal and I am stronger than I think.

Back in town and transition, I get my run gear on and off I go. I was going to see what my legs thought of the ride. I ran and did not stop till the aid station 1.5 miles later. I ended up running pretty much the whole thing except short 10-20 walking steps to reset. That same teammate, Bob, ran with me the first loop and kept me motivated. What a funny guy!

I lungs and heart felt strong on the run but my body, especially my hips, were telling me otherwise but I did not stop. The last half mile was tough. A gal ran by me and could hear me pushing myself and gave me encouragement. That made me push harder and not stop. Finish Line! I ended up 2^nd out of 2 of us in my age group. She was only 4 minutes ahead of me. Woohoo! Happy with my time but realizing that age is making me slower. On that another day.

I have one more triathlon next weekend then a nice break. Oh, wait. I signed up for a trail run next month. A marathon. No, an ultra, 31 miles. But it's beautiful going over Deception Pass and running in the woods and along the water. I can’t wait to JUST run.