Sunday I participated in the Hagerstown Sprint Triathlon and this one I will remember for a long time. We’ll call it lessons learned! This was my second tri race of this season and I was really looking forward to “Tri”ing a new course.
You may recall my discussing my race anxiety a few weeks back. This time was different. I had a ton of issues going on in our house the last few weeks and I literally had no time at all to stress about the race or imagine any terrible things that might ensue. This really kept my race anxiety to a minimum and that was huge for me. (win!)
Hagerstown is about 90 minutes away from my home so my friends and I headed up the day before for packet pickup and to stay the night. This sprint tri takes place in a pool with a bike and run in around the surrounding park area. We were not familiar with the course at all (foreshadowing) so we decided to drive the bike course to get an idea of the terrain. Although we had the map on our phone, we missed a few turns but felt like we had a general idea of the course.
Had a fun, relaxing dinner with 4 other friends and headed over to our hotel to check in and check our gear. I was so tired from the crazy few days I had that I actually slept pretty well the night before the race. This never happens! (win!)
We arrived at the race venue a little before 6, easily parked, racked our bikes and set up our transitions. Just in time for a quick picture before the race started.
This was a 300 meter snake swim in a small pool with swimmers staggered every 15 seconds. I seeded myself appropriately and before I knew it, I was off and swimming. I literally has no anxiety at all! This has never happened. I immediately got into my swim groove and felt great the whole time. I did not encounter any aggressive swimmers and no one passed me. I exited the pool feeling like I had one of my best tri swims ever. (win!) This completely goofy pic shows how happy I was. PS they should not allow post swim photos!
Transition 1 was pretty good. I put my bike gloves onto the wrong hands which has never happened before. In case you were wondering, they are not too effective that way. Off I was on bike! I was feeling amazing from the start. A few people passed me and I then passed a few. This was a small race of about 425 racers and all of the sudden I found myself alone. I came to a fork in the road and had no idea which way to go. There was an orange cone but no sign. There was literally no one anywhere. So…I turned left and a little over a mile later I see a race official who tells me I am way off course. Oh No! How did that happen? I literally blew probably my best time yet by adding on an extra 3 miles. I should have had a course map printed out or known the course better. (Lesson learned!)
Finally made it back to transition 2 and quickly threw on my running shoes. Despite my detour, I was still in good spirits and felt pretty good on the run. My legs did not have that jelly feeling they sometimes get after a bike. I finished the run strong and knew it was one of my better tri run times. (calling this one a win!)
So I quickly realized, had I not had a little detour, I would have probably placed in my age group. Bummer huh?
Lessons learned in the race were huge:
-Having something else to stress about & analyzing every detail of the race took away my race anxiety
-Taking 2 days off before the race allowed me to start with fresh legs and lots of energy.
-It is my responsibility to know the bike & run course.
-Race pics are never attractive 🙂
Despite the little bike snafu, I am calling the race a win overall. I felt better and stronger than I ever have during a race. Can’t wait to go back next year and crush this course.
What lessons have you learned in a race?
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The best races are the ones where you just relax and go. Honestly, the best things in life happen that way as well! I’m glad that even though there were a few snafus, you still had a great time, experience, and great result!
It is very difficult for me to relax at a race but I was kind of forced to this time and it really made a huge difference
Great job!!! Last year when I rode Venus de Miles, a volunteer sent me the wrong way and I ended up riding about 6-7 miles further than I needed to. All of a sudden I realized that I was alone..I’m just glad it wasn’t a race.
Looks like you found your niche!
I often wondered how people got lost on races but it happens. You kind of get in a zone and don’t realize.
Awesome job friend!!! I call this a win despite the little detour too- oh and I actually really like that post swim photo of you, I think it’s awesome!
LOL thanks! I have a few swim photos where I look like a swamp monster emerging 🙂
see, i fault the race officials. every turn or choice of direction should have a clearly marked sign or volunteer. sorry that happened! sounds like you had fun though.
I do agree it should have been marked because it is easy to get disoriented while racing. I did have fun despite the extra miles
Sounds like another great race! Great job!
Sounds like a great time despite the detour! I have only ever had one race picture that looked good. My biggest race lesson has always been to run my own race pace and not pay attention to the people around me passing me…. don’t start out to fast because then I will peter out….
I make that mistake all the time too! I always feel so good at the start
Oh I can’t believe you went off course, that is a huge bummer! But you’re right a lesson learned for sure.
Bummer for sure but yes lesson learned!
Huge win for sure Deb! Your amazing swim gives me hope. Maybe someday I will not wig out. Sorry about the bike course. Geez, maybe better markings would’ve helped. Congrats!
This was honestly the first time I did not freak on a swim! There is hope for both of us
Ugh! That stinks that you took that little detour! To be honest, even when I do have a course map, I don’t always know the right way to go.
You did amazing, regardless! And you know what? You did indeed pull some great lessons out of the day, which is even more valuable. Congratulations!
Thanks friend! I did indeed learn a few important race lessons
Sounds like you had a great race overall! I think everyone has a story like that, and they are totally lessons learned! I have way worse swim pics than that–you look great!
LOl I don’t know about that but thanks!!
WAY TO GO!!! I’m sorry about the detour, but it sounds like you still did awesome and had a great time!
I did have lots of fun and enjoyed it more than usual this time
Congrats on your race!!!!
Thanks friend! Have a great rest of your week
Yay for sleeping well and minimal race anxiety! That’s great. It would have been nice if there were better signs on the course but this one definitely sounds like a win overall 🙂
It would have been nice yes but I should have known the course better as well. Thanks!
Awesome, congratulations!! Hagerstown is about 45 minutes away from me so I might have to consider this race … although I’m a horrible swimmer. Like, really, REALLY horrible. 😉 But great recap, thanks for sharing!
This is a great beginner tri because it is in a small pool and it is a smaller race. Hope you give it a “tri” next year!
Congrats Deborah! I’m glad you had an anxiety-free triathlon! It’s crazy how much our minds can play tricks on us! Too bad about the course, it still sounds like it was poorly marked. Great job regardless!
I can be my own worst enemy sometimes for sure!!
What a bummer! They should have marked the course clearly!!! That has happened to me once before and it was such a bummer!
I always wondered how people got lost in races and now I know! 🙂
Congratulations on your Tri! I feel like I always do so much better at races too when I take a few days off prior to the race. Enjoy your accomplishment!
Thanks so much and yes it did help quite a bit.
Aw, bummer about the detour. But you look adorbs in your pics and that’s awesome that you did so well considering!! Congrats!
Ah thanks!
Congrats on a great race despite your little snafu! What a bummer about going off course, but hey, it sounds like you have a really good attitude about it. Congrats!
Thanks this time my attitude was way different. I think of myself as having a much harder workout than the other participants 🙂
Sounds like you found the silver lining to those issues going on in your house the past few weeks 🙂 Yay for an anxiety-free swim! I can’t believe you got lost on the course! I’m always worried on trail runs that I will miss a turn and end up lost somewhere.
You know I’ve always wondered how people get lost and now I know!
I’m so glad to hear you had less anxiety this race!
Bummer about the bike course mishap. I’m the worst for never really knowing a course, even though I know it’s my responsibility.
You know I never really look at the course either but with a smaller race I should have!
I think your finish line pic is great! (Just because it’s too funny I’ll tell you that autocorrect changed “great” to “gyrations!” Good thing I proofread for a change. ????)Too bad about the wrong turn. And I for one think it is the race director’s fault that the course wasn’t marked. You were racing and shouldn’t be expected to either memorize the course or stop to look at the route map. Congrats on having a good race in spite of it all.
LOl sometimes autocorrect is a little wacky! Yes too bad indeed about the little detour 🙂
Congrats!! Definitely a win 🙂
Thanks I think so too!
How was there no sign? That’s crazy, but at least you have a great attitude about it and still did an awesome job 🙂
I have no idea how it happened! I was in a zone I guess
Great job! I definitely notice I have less race anxiety when I am focused on something else. I go back and forth between taking 1 or 2 days off before a race. Sometimes its nice to do an easy run to keep my legs loose!
Yes true! I probably would not have taken 2 full days off if I had not been so busy but glad I did!
I’d definitely call it a WIN! The fact that you learned something valuable from the experience is great, but you also felt strong throughout the entire race…..that’s got to be a great feeling 😉 Congrats!!
You know it really was! Thanks girlfriend 🙂
I think you did an awesome job! Finishing a tri is a huge achievement on its own!
What a bummer on heading off on the wrong course though! That would totally be me – though I’d end up getting completely lost in the middle of nowhere with no one to tell me I was lost 😛
I love that you took it as a learning experience and still had fun! It’s really the only way to go!
Yes has to be!
I would call this a win too!
How crazy that fork wasn’t marked – or maybe the arrow got lost? Sounds like a good event overall and I love that swim photo!!
I have no idea how I got lost! Feel kind of silly really
Great job! Sorry you went off course, I think they should have had better directions too. You def make me want to do a tri!
Oh yeah you totally should at least “tri” one 🙂
OH NO!!!! That is such a bummer that you got lost, but yes, lesson learned! I got lost once on a trail marathon course. Went an entire half mile before I realized the lady I was following was NOT in the race, and was just out for a casual run. I ended up running about a whole extra mile, which is a long ways in a marathon!
Oh it sure is indeed!
Oh, that’s so sad you took the wrong turn when you were having such a great race! But congrats on doing so well.
I will look at a course map, but I can barely remember my name, let alone all the turns. Thankfully, so far, I haven’t run into that — although I worry about it sometimes, being BOTP, and have had times when it wasn’t very clear.
Congrats on a very strong race!
I am sure I would not have remembered even if I looked at it. That’s why you can’t go so fast right LOL
Bummer about the detour, but that’s really awesome about your swim! That smile really does say it all! Way to go!!
Yes bummer indeed! I did feel great post swim so that is huge for me
Fresh rested legs due make a difference! Congrats on a strong finish- I always worry about getting lost and then I laugh at myself, like I am really leading the pack? LOL! Every race there is something to learn- great job!
LOL yes it will never happen again!
Sorry you missed the bike turn off. In France they usually spray paint an arrow on the road. The rest of the race sounds fabulous, congrats ! And you look happy !
I know so crazy! The routes are usually marked better here as well.