Enka/Biltmore Lake Tri race report!
This was my second tri with my first one being in May. It was a great weekend with the girls. I am in a group called the no drama mama's and we hit the road this weekend to do a sprint tri in asheville, nc. I was in asheville a few weeks ago (camping with the family) and checked out the course so I knew we were in for a real treat! This is the first race I have done with out my husband and children being with me and the first time I have been away from my children.
Anyhow we headed down on Friday afternoon got to packet pick up, looked at the lake, running trail and drove some of the course. We really wanted to make sure we got and early dinner, stuff ready and to bed before 10. It was a rough night for me for whatever reason I could not sleep. We were up at 5:30 ready to leave by 6:30 the race sight was 15 minutes from hotel but we had to eat and get bikes loaded. They did not allow bike drop off so we had to walk bikes 1/4 mile to the transition area. Sprint started at 8 and I was in the last wave (8:20 start) of women over 40, athena and relay team. Water temp was 81 and not wet suit legal.
I felt that I was a prepared for this race as I could have been and we just ready for it to start. Everyone in our group but 1 person(our coach) was in the last wave so we all just chatted until it was are turn to go. I really hate lakes and have a huge fear of really dark water but this did not seem to be that way. Just before we were to go someone in our waves says watch out for snapping turtles and snakes! The horn sounds and off we go I get a 100 meters out and I am feeling good when I realize I can not see anything the water and I just go in to a full blown panic attack! I make it around the triangle bouy and start to go down the straight way for the next 500 meters and I could not put my face in the water I was breathing and gasping so hard water safety asked me if I wanted help and if I wanted to get out. I did not respond so 2 water safety people paddled up beside me and asked again I response was I am going to finish this swim. I could see everyone turn the last bouy for the last 125 meters and I knew I was going to be the last out of the water. I really wanted to quit but I just kept thinking I can catch them if i don't quit. Water safety paddled beside me and encourage me and talked to me which really helped but I could not calm my breathing down. Once I got around the bouy heading back to shore the water was not as deep and I was able to swim more and as soon as I could touch the bottom I ran as fast as I could out of tha****er! Horrible swim time 33:54 but since it was a small race and all transition happened at the club house there was a crowd cheering for me it was GREAT! I made it to my bike still breathing and gasping now thinking oh man I am last but thats okay just get on the bike.
My bike was racked 6 steps to the bike start which was good for me. So off I go huffing and puffing on the 17.5 mile bike course all alone except for the sweep car behind me. LOL As I went through intersections I could hear them radio ahead last female biker coming your way! I started yelling thank you and I may be last but I will not quit as I passed each intersection. This race started on a hill and was nothing but rolling hills ,mountains curves and sharp turns the whole 17.5 miles. They have mile 3 and 11 rated worse of the course. I am coming down hill and have to make a sharp right onto Phaghis Highway still breathing so hard I think I am going to explode I just can't calm down when as I am about to turn I see BIKES! I said thank you to the guys stopping traffic and I will not be last for long! lol I took a big long drink for my camelbak and just started spinning and the next thing I know I have passed 2 and then 3 and 4 at the top I make sure I get in the gear I need to be and pedal and roll that down hill as fast as I can at 36 mph! But you have to slow down at the bottom for a sharp left turn I was feeling so good and calm not. I passed a few more people over the next mile and just kept telling myself find your line and use the down hills. So mile 10 was okay but not easy you come to a down hill and almost have to come to a dead stop at mile 11 because you are coming over a bridge this high cement sides and have to make a sharp left! They had SORRY spray painted on the road we now call that sorry hill! I passed 2 more people on sorry hill and 2 more at mile 15. I could see a pack of people up ahead of me and I pushed and caught them and came in with a group of 5 people. 1:19:03 bike time. There were many people walking there bikes up the hills that never crossed my mind! lol My friends tell me they could not believe the amount of people up clipping and walking. I would never have got back on the bike if I had gotten off.
Got my stuff and headed out for the 3.1 mile run around the lake. I did not push the run because a little over have of the run was covered with mulch because they had some ran over the week and it was muddy. But I did not want to quit so I just went slow. I knew the rest of my group was already in and that my coach would come looking for me and sure enough when I hit the packed part of the trail about 1/4 mile from the finish I heard her yelling my name running toward me. She ran it in with me and I finished the run in 37:00. Total time was 2:33:59 not the best time but I didn't quit! There were 10 people who came in behind me which I can not believe since I was the last out of the water but I never gave up no matter how much I wanted to, I can not believe how much I have changed over the last year and a half! The old me would have quit the swim or better yet never even tried! Now I have to figure out this fear and how to stop the panic attacks. I was last in my group to finish but not by much. We had a great weekend in Asheville shopping and enjoying the city. I may have to do it again next year just so I can beat that time and I loved the bike course even if it was challenging.
Still trying to figure out why I pay money for this pain!
Anne
Anyhow we headed down on Friday afternoon got to packet pick up, looked at the lake, running trail and drove some of the course. We really wanted to make sure we got and early dinner, stuff ready and to bed before 10. It was a rough night for me for whatever reason I could not sleep. We were up at 5:30 ready to leave by 6:30 the race sight was 15 minutes from hotel but we had to eat and get bikes loaded. They did not allow bike drop off so we had to walk bikes 1/4 mile to the transition area. Sprint started at 8 and I was in the last wave (8:20 start) of women over 40, athena and relay team. Water temp was 81 and not wet suit legal.
I felt that I was a prepared for this race as I could have been and we just ready for it to start. Everyone in our group but 1 person(our coach) was in the last wave so we all just chatted until it was are turn to go. I really hate lakes and have a huge fear of really dark water but this did not seem to be that way. Just before we were to go someone in our waves says watch out for snapping turtles and snakes! The horn sounds and off we go I get a 100 meters out and I am feeling good when I realize I can not see anything the water and I just go in to a full blown panic attack! I make it around the triangle bouy and start to go down the straight way for the next 500 meters and I could not put my face in the water I was breathing and gasping so hard water safety asked me if I wanted help and if I wanted to get out. I did not respond so 2 water safety people paddled up beside me and asked again I response was I am going to finish this swim. I could see everyone turn the last bouy for the last 125 meters and I knew I was going to be the last out of the water. I really wanted to quit but I just kept thinking I can catch them if i don't quit. Water safety paddled beside me and encourage me and talked to me which really helped but I could not calm my breathing down. Once I got around the bouy heading back to shore the water was not as deep and I was able to swim more and as soon as I could touch the bottom I ran as fast as I could out of tha****er! Horrible swim time 33:54 but since it was a small race and all transition happened at the club house there was a crowd cheering for me it was GREAT! I made it to my bike still breathing and gasping now thinking oh man I am last but thats okay just get on the bike.
My bike was racked 6 steps to the bike start which was good for me. So off I go huffing and puffing on the 17.5 mile bike course all alone except for the sweep car behind me. LOL As I went through intersections I could hear them radio ahead last female biker coming your way! I started yelling thank you and I may be last but I will not quit as I passed each intersection. This race started on a hill and was nothing but rolling hills ,mountains curves and sharp turns the whole 17.5 miles. They have mile 3 and 11 rated worse of the course. I am coming down hill and have to make a sharp right onto Phaghis Highway still breathing so hard I think I am going to explode I just can't calm down when as I am about to turn I see BIKES! I said thank you to the guys stopping traffic and I will not be last for long! lol I took a big long drink for my camelbak and just started spinning and the next thing I know I have passed 2 and then 3 and 4 at the top I make sure I get in the gear I need to be and pedal and roll that down hill as fast as I can at 36 mph! But you have to slow down at the bottom for a sharp left turn I was feeling so good and calm not. I passed a few more people over the next mile and just kept telling myself find your line and use the down hills. So mile 10 was okay but not easy you come to a down hill and almost have to come to a dead stop at mile 11 because you are coming over a bridge this high cement sides and have to make a sharp left! They had SORRY spray painted on the road we now call that sorry hill! I passed 2 more people on sorry hill and 2 more at mile 15. I could see a pack of people up ahead of me and I pushed and caught them and came in with a group of 5 people. 1:19:03 bike time. There were many people walking there bikes up the hills that never crossed my mind! lol My friends tell me they could not believe the amount of people up clipping and walking. I would never have got back on the bike if I had gotten off.
Got my stuff and headed out for the 3.1 mile run around the lake. I did not push the run because a little over have of the run was covered with mulch because they had some ran over the week and it was muddy. But I did not want to quit so I just went slow. I knew the rest of my group was already in and that my coach would come looking for me and sure enough when I hit the packed part of the trail about 1/4 mile from the finish I heard her yelling my name running toward me. She ran it in with me and I finished the run in 37:00. Total time was 2:33:59 not the best time but I didn't quit! There were 10 people who came in behind me which I can not believe since I was the last out of the water but I never gave up no matter how much I wanted to, I can not believe how much I have changed over the last year and a half! The old me would have quit the swim or better yet never even tried! Now I have to figure out this fear and how to stop the panic attacks. I was last in my group to finish but not by much. We had a great weekend in Asheville shopping and enjoying the city. I may have to do it again next year just so I can beat that time and I loved the bike course even if it was challenging.
Still trying to figure out why I pay money for this pain!
Anne
Very very inspiring! You are amazing!
www.sexyskinnybitch.wordpress.com - my journey to sexy skinny bitch status
11/16/12 - Got my Body by Sauceda - arms, Bl/BA, LBL, thigh lift.
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~~~~Alison~~~~~
Great Race Anne! Way to hang in there after a rough swim, I know many people who would have just called it a day, but having the perseverance to continue on after that shows a lot of character! Great job on the hills on that bike course, I know passing people after a lackluster swim was a real confidence boost! I hope to get up to NC next year and do a tri with you!
Jillian
Operation Iraqi Freedom Veteran, Army Wife, 3x Ironman Finisher
way to go! you showed a lot of courage to go out there and hit a solid bike and run after a tough swim. you should feel proud of yourself! i can't wait to see what you can do when you gain a bit more confidence in the water.
Where are we going?? And why am I in this handbasket??
right now. somewhere. somebody is working harder than you.
right now. somewhere. somebody is working harder than you.
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