Did you know, it rained all day yesterday?
Yes, it did. According to my weather app it was not supposed to start raining until noon - when the race would be over. However, Mother Nature decided it would be extra fun (funny?) to start raining at 7:30am, right before our 8am start time.
Did you know, that it did not just rain? - It poured.
All our gear had to be set up in the transition area prior to the race. So - everything was soaked, prior to the race.
This was a Tri/Duathlon. So, swimmers gathered down by the lake. I took my place with runners, up at the start line. Off we went!
Did you know, it was a trail run?
I didn't know that until three days before the race, when I actually read the race description in detail.
Trail runs are not my favorite. Every now and then I do one as a training run, for change of scenery/something different. However, I am usually a bit paranoid about tripping over a root or rock, and injuring myself, so I like to stick to roads/sidewalks.
This race was a trail run. 4.1 miles for the first leg. The trail was narrow and very, very muddy due to the on/off rain. I decided early on that I would rather run slow, and be cautious, than risk injury. So, slowly, I ran - dodging mud puddles, holding onto tress around turns, and trying to keep an eye on the runner in front of me, as the rain was coming down so hard, I couldn't pick up my head fully - it was easier to look down.
Did you know, it's a small world after all?
I picked a runner early on to keep in my line of sight. Not only did we go the same pace, but we were wearing the same shoes, which I felt was a bit of karma perhaps? So, we started chatting. We live near each other! Her son goes to my school! We have several friends in common! It is truly a small world, and I made a new running/biking friend. We ran the entire first leg together, before entering the transition area to get our bikes.
It's easy to find your bike in the transition area, when there are only 4 bikes left.
Yup, yet again, I was at the end of the pack.
I quickly got out of my running shoes, and into my cycling shoes - everything was soaked at this point. My socks, my shoes - me.
I made it to the bike mount area along with my new friend, and we started up the hill. Yes, you read that correctly, they had us starting up a hill.
There was another girl who was with us at this point. I will call her "19", as that was the number on the back of her leg, indicating her age.
Up the hill we went. I asked my new friend to get in front, so I could keep an eye on her, and she could set the pace.
Off we went in the pouring rain.
Two BIG hills early on - and "19" mentioned that she was not used to these sort of hills, being from Wilmington (which, is relatively flat). She was in for a treat - as this bike race was nothing but hills. And by hills, I mean small mountains. "19" fell way behind at this point. . .and me and my new friend proceeded.
At about mile 10 (there are 22 miles to this leg of the race), my new friend pulled ahead, so I was on my own. Around this point, I was also passed by a 77 year old man, and a 56 year old man who had an 80-year old knee - as he told everyone at the starting line, because he was wearing some high tech gear on his right knee for support.
I had lots of time to reflect on this ride. Clearly, riding is not my strength, but, I was really enjoying myself. That has to count for something, right? The route was beautiful, as it looped entirely around Lake James. So often, to my right was the lake, and to the left, mountains. The rain had tapered off to mist, for the most part, so it was really quite a nice a ride.
At mile 20 I wanted to die. It felt like it was uphill, never-ending. I was tired. It was raining again, and now windy, and felt like I was being hit with hundreds of little needles. I was alone. It was very much like "the wall" in a marathon. I had to push through - besides, for some weird reason, this foggy, desolate stretch of the race was making me think of Stephen King novels, and I didn't want some crazy dog or possessed car to sneak up on me.
Did you know, that it's very difficult to transition when everyone else is done with the race?
I pulled into the bike transition area and it was packed; not with people getting ready for the last leg, people who were DONE with the race. So, they are milling around, changing and chatting. I couldn't get my bike onto my designated rack. Then, everything of mine was still soaked (no, it didn't miraculously dry while I was out my ride, as I had secretly hoped). As I tried to get out of the transition area, another racer finally realized I was still in the race, and helped clear a path for me to get to the next leg. Thank you, kind race-woman.
My running & cycling shoes, drying out, recovering from the race.
Did you know, that there is a Close-er at the end of a race?
This was a surprise. As I headed down the stairs towards the last leg of the race - a 3.1 mile trail run - I picked up another runner behind me. For the first half mile, I ran awkwardly, trying to adjust to being off the bike, and I used this time to try and figure out how another runner ended up behind me. She wasn't "19", who I hadn't seen since the beginning of the bike portion. (Incidentally, "19" must have left the race because she never finished, and her car was gone when I went to load my bike.)
As we ran, I heard her tell the volunteers on the path to pack up, and I realized she was a Closer: A person who runs after the last person, to make sure everyone knows the race is over!
I told her that I thought there might be one more person behind me (please, please, please let there be one more person behind me), and she said she'd check at the turnaround water stop on our course.
Again, for these 3.1 miles, we dodged serious mud, narrow trails, and some large rocks and roots.
At the water turnaround we learned that there was in fact, one more runner behind me (whoo-hooo!). I kept running.
At this point, I had my running legs back, and I felt great!
I spotted the 77 year racer ahead of me, and sped up. I managed to pass him, although kudos to him for kicking my butt for 3/4 of the race. Up ahead I saw another runner shuffling along. I managed to pass him.
And, Did you know?
I finished the race.
At mile 10 on the bike portion, I was doubting myself. By mile 20 on the bike ride, I was questioning why I do this to myself.
But you know what? I did it.
And, I still had some energy to spare, because I was ready to take someone down for a bagel at the end.
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