The Training Triathlon

I train, I train, I train...and I train during a race. Ahhhh....the sweet smell of some success! I admit, I've been a little unmotivated in my training, and I will share no details about that because I'm committed to being the "glass is half full"!! But today is a day to share. It started out frustrating, then went to calm, then on to comical, and maybe a little pain stuck in there. Yes, tons of emotions on such a beautiful day. This race I used as a training race. The plan was to not go "all out". I was just trying to get the body moving, and prepare for the Half IM.

Going to bed a 9PM when it's light out is a bit strange. What am I 7 yrs. old again??? I desperately needed to sleep so I could wake up at 4:30AM, yep that's right, 4:30. I had to drive about 1.5 hours to get to the race site. I packed my car the night before, and set out all my clothes...I even set up the coffee pot! Oh, do I need that coffee when it's an early race day. I printed out my map, and off to bed I went.

The morning brought me no surprises...except for being tired still after 7 hrs. of sleep. Which is a lot of sleep for me, so why was I still tired? It's just the 4:30 smell I guess. The body is use to the 5:30 AM smell.
I made some scrambled eggwhites, and had some yogurt with a Zone bar. The breakfast of champions huh? I poured my big mug-0-coffee and got in the car WITH my map. Why is the map an issue? This is where the "frustrating" emotion comes in. Well....I got to where the map told me, and I had printed out the directions to the Waterloo State Park Headquarters...NOT Portage Lake where the race was. Really good thing I like to get to races early, because now I have time to find where I'm going. I grabbed a park map and found my way to the lake. Yes, I was still early.:)

I set up my transition area in my favorite spot on the rack...on the very end where there is space to spread out. What can I say...I'm a high maintenance diabetic! I don't want my meters or pump to get knocked around! Luckily there was an area just for the female triathletes...the men had numbered spots.

So now the wait....and more waiting. Everyone is now making the trek down to the water...and I'm still waiting....waiting for the last possible minute to take off the piece of machinery I wear. With my wetsuit halfway on...and the rest of my swim gear...I walked peacefully down to the water. Peaceful is an emotion that I didn't mention earlier...but I was. I had been listening to my IPod all morning tuning everyone out to get to that peaceful place so I could focus. This is probably the only thing that is nice about doing and event by yourself, you don't know anyone, and no one will bother you.

I got to the water and immediately got in to warm up. I was excited to try out my new wetsuit. I recently got a full one for the big race, and was anxious to use it!
This swim was BY FAR the best swim I have ever had during a race! Maybe not time wise...but comfort level wise. Remember I didn't want to go "all out" during this race. So I kept a nice moderate pace, which is slightly slower then race pace. I found I was sighting the buoy's better, and not losing my breath. I wish I could have seen what the HRM was reading...that would have been interesting.

I did the run/walk out of the swim to T1, and this is the comical part. More like..."oh crap...do I laugh or cry" part. After the battle with the removal of the wetsuit, I went through the usual routine that I follow in transition. While putting my racebelt on I notice that my infusion site is becoming loose. It's not sticking well at all, which never has happened to me, during a race or otherwise! I beg anyone that I see for tape....I figure duct tape could hold it until I'm home. No luck and I decide to put the racebelt over it around my waist. That should hold it. It did...for the whole cycling portion! I kept checking....like I could do something about it anyway. Now my mind is going...should I quit if it comes out? Should I just suck it up and go on? Hard to do the right thing during a race because there are so many things going through your mind.

I check on the site in T2...still the same, so I bolus a little for a high bg (posting sugars at the end). Racebelt still holding...and I go on. The run is on rolling hills, dirt roads and ends on a 1.5-2 mile narrow trail run. Unbelievably gorgeous!
About a mile into the run it happens...site is gone, and so is the insulin!! I wonder if I could break open the reservoir and drink the insulin..wouldn't that work??!! I continue and try not to think about it too much. But the whole incident took some time away from the run, and now people are passing...probably wondering what the hell that chick is doing. I walked a few hills, and drank water at every aid station, and made it to the trail section. For some reason my pace picked up during that part....maybe I just wanted to get it done so I could go to the medical tent for some diabetic drugs:) None the less, I passed a few who passed me, and then the finish line.
They called my name and he said "you don't even look like you broke a sweat"...sweet talker...I was dripping salt!

I see the paramedics and hope they have what I need...well, because why would I bring extra supplies???!! Usually I do, but not this time. Is that Murphy's Law or what?? Of course they don't have insulin...just regular first aid stuff, and yes, tape. Where were they after my swim?!

Great race, and lessons learned! Here are the stats:

4:30AM-179, 35cb, 3.5u, 10u Symlin
6:20AM-150, turned basal up to .50 for 2 hours
7:05AM- 140
7:30 AM-116, 7cb., went with my gut on this, probably didn't need the carbs
After swim-203
After bike-224
Lost site
End of race-297
12PM-249, home, bolus 2u correction, 45cb. bolus 3.3u
Cut my lawn..where did that energy come from?
3:20-73...there's the low I was looking for!

Now I'm going to bed and I'm at 131 after Mexican food and a beer. Nice treat!