This was my second time doing the Espirit de She sprint triathlon. Read last year’s adventure here. I am an Espirit de She Race Series Ambassador and Founding Finisher since 2013.
After a steamy 100-degree the day before, tri day dawned cooler and clear, albeit on the windy side. I was up and restless 30 minutes before my 4am alarm. We were on the road before 5am. The Caveman and I had the tollway to ourselves except for a bus and one car. Right before our eyes, that car, maybe 100 yds ahead of us, started drifting left, clipping the bus in the process. The car hit the center median at a high rate of speed and flipped up, cartwheeling over and over like something out of an action thriller. Except sadly it was very real. I called 911. Thankfully the bus maintained control and pulled over. Not a great start to the morning.
I made it to transition by 5:30. The organizers played a cruel trick on us “old” ladies and had us go off almost last this year vs almost first last year. Fair is fair I guess.
Goals for today:
Beat last year’s time. Strong(ish), smoother swim with less backstroking than last year. Finish with a smile.
Waves starting going off over an hour before it was my turn back in wave 19. So I sat, watched and tried to relax. I was actually feeling really good. Calm. The quarry looked less daunting than it did last year. That’s good, right? The water hung right at 72 degrees. Many opted to skip the wetsuit but I wore mine as a floaty security blanket. I’ll take any extra flotational boost I can get.
Finally we were off. I hung toward the back, inside closest to the buoy. My sighting skills are crap so I figured I’d hug the line and hope for the best. I started swimming and almost immediately took an elbow hard to the temple followed by a kick to the forehead. I saw stars. The water was too deep to stop, so I guess I dog paddled. I’m not really sure. The course is 3 out and backs totaling 800m. I made it around the first buoy ok but soon after I was on my back floating, trying in vain to regroup. Ugh. I’d hoped to stay off my back as much as possible this year and here I was already, gasping for breath with a sky-high heartbeat. After the second buoy I was SO dizzy and disoriented, choking on water. I was expending so much energy and felt completely overwhelmed. Full-on panic mode. A lifeguard reached a floaty thing out to me but I didn’t grab it. I don’t even remember getting out to the final buoy. I felt like I was suspended in time: underwater one minute then bright sun the next. I was so disoriented I wasn’t even sure what buoy was the right one to be swimming toward. Then I saw the swim finish arch on the beach in the distance and flailed that way. Not sure how I did it, but at last I was on the beach. I remembered to click my Garmin over to transition mode, then walked all the way to my bike in utter despair.
Swim: 15:44 (2 minutes faster than last year, go figure)
After suffering the mother of all panic attacks in the water, not to mention a splitting headache from the blows to the head, I pulled over to wretch up a bunch of quarry water. Here it was 8:30 am and I wanted to be done. I sat on the ground in transition next to my bike, in no hurry whatsoever. That’s how worn out I was from the episode in the quarry. I took my sweet time peeling off my wetsuit and walked my bike over to the mounting area, hoping to feel less like crap.
T1: Almost 7 minutes.
I prayed I’d be able to recover, reset and regroup on the bike. I took my sweet time riding as well, wheezing and coughing up water all the way. I liked the feeling of my soaking wet tris(c)uit airing out on the bike. It was also a bonus that it wasn’t raining torrentially as it was last year. But yikes it was windy. When we turned to head in on the first (of 2) loop, we were met with a nasty head/crosswind that stopped me in my tracks. Maybe I wouldn’t be faster on the bike this year afterall.
The bike turned out to be uneventful. Before long I was dismounting and Caveman was nowhere to be seen. Hmmm.
Bike: 50:XX
Again I took my sweet time walking my bike to transition. Once again I forgot to fuel for the run. It’s becoming a tradition, I’m afraid. I even had the GU in my trisuit pocket, and yet? No.
T2: 2:33
I headed out on the run course. 3 miles may as well have been 3o. I. Felt. Awful. My legs weren’t horribly dead, I just could not get any air. My breathing was shallow. Anytime I tried to breathe deeper I’d cough. My head continued to spin and pound. I was nauseous. No Caveman to be seen anywhere on the run course either. WTF? I began to worry something happened to him or at home. Ugh.
Dejected sums up how I felt on the run. Because we went off so late, there weren’t a ton of people left on the course. Women wearing medals headed back to their cars with their bikes in tow. Much of the course was hot and sunny and I totally phoned it in with some walk/run BS.
What felt like 6 hours later, I finally finished. Foggy. Nauseous. Embarrassed. More food than I could carry was handed to me as I made my way through the finishing area. I collected my medal then I found a grassy area, threw everything down and collapsed. My phone was back in transition so Caveman (wherever he was) would have to find me.
Run: 34:XX
Finish Time: 1:50:XX (5 minutes slower than last year. Sigh)
Overall 816/1508
AG: 68/135
Final Words: This race was a mess. I basically never recovered after being kicked in the head right out of the gate. The “C-word” (concussion) is being thrown around here because I’m still not feeling like myself. Still light-headed, irritable and not sleeping well. I simply MUST figure out how to be a better open-water swimmer if I’m going to attempt another tri that has one. I’m in the market for a swim whisperer.
My performance notwithstanding, I do love this race. It could not be a more supportive environment for women, especially those that are new to triathlon. I absolutely loved hanging with the ladies in my transition area and swim wave. Some of them I met last year and they do this race every single year. So inspiring.
This race is heavy on the swag if you enjoy that sort of thing (I know you do). We got an awesome Moxie cycling tank as our race shirt and the matching skirt and shorts for those of us who signed up early. The ensemble is super cute and I am too lazy to put it on to photograph. Sigh. The goodie bag was filled with goodies!
The finish line party was among the best I’ve seen, even though I wasn’t up for much fun at that point. Oh and for those of you who are wondering where the heck the Caveman was, he did eventually find me at the finish. Apparently he went to the car for “20 minutes” and missed me at the bike finish so he waited there, growing frantic that I’d crashed or gotten a flat or something. The only crash was in the water.
Ugh this was one report that was not fun to write. I’ll stop whining now. Would I do this tri again? That depends on how proficient in the open water I can become. Given my current skill level, I would not.
Have you done a tri? Are you a proficient open water swimmer? Know any swim whisperers?
Great job Marcia!!! You rocked it. If it makes you feel any better…even with your panic attack your swim time was still a lot better than mine last week 🙂 But seriously, you are amazing! Great job…that had to be tough trying to regain your composure after getting kicked, but you did and you finished! Congrats!
BTW, I feel the same way about doing another tri. I need to feel more comfortable with the swim first.
What a story! I am super proud of you for sticking it out after such a rough beginning! I am proud that you are my coach! 🙂 XXOO
Wow, I can’t believe you even finished the swim let alone the whole thing. Considering everything, you did well. It sort of seems like that car wreck was a bad omen for the day. I’ve been right behind a wreck and it is horrifying. Please get your head checked out. Concussions are no joke.
I am so sorry you had such a tough time. Pretty sure that kick in the head was what threw you off. You were so ready for this! You do look super cute in your triscuit!
I am really appreciative for your honesty in this recap. Your disappointment is palpable. I think it’s refreshing to read a “real” recap instead of a sugar-coated one. Knowing you, you’ll go back to the drawing board and find a way to conquer this beast. After all, you are the one who talked me into re-running Chicago! Remember? Unfinished business?
I hope you feel better. Take it easy. Love you.
WoW. Did the chicks() who bopped you in the head ever acknowledge what they did (even though I’m sure it was accidental)? I know it’s a competition (well, a blood & guts competition for some peeps), but I guess I just don’t have that “focus” to not be aware of such things…I’d be the one pausing (mid-stroke?) to check on my victim. Gosh, you are a beast and a tough one at that. Thanks for your honesty. Like Wendy said, it’s great to hear the real story, it really shows us what you’re made of to go through all of that to get to the finish line.
Kim the start was such a crush with everybody underwater, nobody acknowledged anything. Believe me I so wanted to get right out at my first opportunity, pack it up and head home. But that’s not what we do, right?
Awww, big hugs. I guess witnessing that car crash really was foreshadowing, unfortunately.
I sincerely hope you weren’t concussed. People always thing I’m going to do a tri, but I have any reasons I am not interested, and being hit like that is exactly one of them.
On the bright side, you finished! And got lots of swag. There are so few races with good swag anymore — or at least it seems that way to me.
I had many races that started out with a swim like this when I was starting out. Not having the most confidence in my swim it caused for a lot of anxiety before/during the swim. Once I got a coach I got some great advice. Instead of starting near the front and at the buoy line start at/near the back and off to the side away from the line. This can add a bit of distance but the ability to swim out of the fray and avoid the boxing match of everyone trying to get the shortest line made for some great starts. I was actually able to finish a bit quicker, but more importantly was able to swim a smooth swim without all the starting and stopping, rolling onto my back and physical contact. After some time, as I grew more confident, the swim became more of a necessary evil than a reason to dread the race. Even now in my Ironman racing I do this to some extent.
Don’t give up! I hope this helps a bit. Good luck.
Thanks so much Mary! I watched the women in previous waves who started out, away from the buoy and figured I’d be either out of gas or my poor sighting would take me further off course if I started out there. I guess it beats getting caught up in the fray though.
You my friend are such a bada$$! I’m so sorry about the elbow to the head and I know how much you wanted to achieve your goals, but seriously, look at what you accomplished. Something so few have.
Watching my son trying to figure out this whole swim thing has given me mad respect for what it requires of you all. I sure hope you are NOT concussed (but it might be worth checking out – my friend concussed herself standing up into a bunk bed frame, and wasn’t herself for a good month).
You finished! I hope you can take some measure of pride out if finishing when you SO didn’t want to.
I too appreciate a report that is honest. I know you are disappointed, but I know you’ll be back out there doing it again.
I’m hyperventilating after reading this. You are such a badass to have been kicked right at the start and then continue on. (I recently smacked my head on the freezer door after bending over into the frig. You story is so much cooler!) Congrats on swimming faster this year! That’s awesome — especially while being so disoriented. I have a feeling you will want to do this again. And, redemption will be sweet. I read this several times over, as well as last year’s post, for inspiration. You are an inspiring, strong woman! Thanks for keeping it real.
Ugh I’m so sorry it started off like that! Did the person at least stop and acknowledge what happened? Doesn’t sound like it 🙁 Hope you’re feeling better soon!
Oh my goodness, Marcia. I had tears in my eyes reading your recap because I can relate to feeling so awful and so badly wanting to stop. It’s incredibly hard to battle through. But you did it! Your perseverance is amazing and you are a true warrior! Great job on fighting and getting to the finish line in one piece. How scary that you witnessed that car-bus crash pre-race – in retrospect, it feels like it was an omen for the day, right? And I hope to god you do NOT have a concussion. Get some rest and I wish you the speediest of recoveries!!!
Oh no, please keep us updated. I really hope it is no a concussion.
I am glad to hear you stuck with it, hope no concussion. Those swim starts are no joke, of course the contact is unintentional in most cases – no one can see where they’re going very well and most of us swim crooked. Super impressed that you hung in there and finished. Triathlon runs are always tough in the heat, and especially after you’ve had adrenaline surges early on that leave you feeling totally drained. Great work Marcia!
If you don’t feel better soon I’d definitely get checked out. I am so sorry you had such a rough start to your race, but way to not quit and finish!!! Great job!
The only swimming I do is bobbing waves in the ocean. I’ve never been a fan of water in my eyes/nose or on my face in any way, LOL.
Aw Marcia, I’m sorry you didn’t have a great race! 🙁 I was hit really really hard once in the head by an arm during swim practice and I still remember how disoriented I felt…and that was in a pool! I can’t imagine that scenario (and likely worse) in open water. I am toying with the idea of a triathlon and this one is on my list. It seems to get lots of positive reviews. Congrats on finishing a tough race!
So sorry to hear you get hit in the head like that. Not sure if I would have finished in those conditions. Bravo for finishing in those conditions, I really hope you are feeling better.
Oh, crap Marcia! I don’t have any other response – just oh, crap!
Wow – that was tough! As I was reading it I kept thinking concussion. I think you and I went to the same school of medicine. I hope you’re feeling more yourself really soon.
Holy smokes Marcia! I’m so sorry you took an elbow to your head – really hope it’s not a concussion. You are seriously one tough cookie for pushing through to the end. Hope you’re feeling better soon!
Hi Marcia!
This was my third year to complete the Espirt de She. The swim is crowded in th big M and it hard to find a good rhythm. The bike was tough with the wind. This wasn’t your race but you got it in you!! You train hard and you should try again (maybe Iron Girl Pleasant Prairie)! Keep at it – it’s worth it. You are awesome!
Honestly, I don’t know how you finished. A start like that makes it hard to get out there and finish a race well. I am so sorry you endured that. Hope you are recovering well today, Marcia,
That definitely sounds like a concussion, though I’m not sure what you can do besides wait for the symptoms to subside. I’ve heard the swim portion of ti’s is no joke, and injuries happen more there because of the elbows and the kicking. Great job on powering through, and I hope recovery helps.
Great job! Let me know if you ever want to try to meet up for some OWS tips! The biggest thing is really getting to practice those skills regularly (womp, womp).
Gah, you poor thing! What a horrible way to feel during an ENTIRE race! I applaud you for finishing at all and hope that you feel better soon. Please go to the doc if you don’t! 🙁
That stinks to be the last ones on the course because of when your wave started. Make the elites go last so they are! Ha ha, jk 🙂
Oh Louise, I hope you are okay with the noggin. I’m sorry the race didn’t go better in the water….these tri thingies are dangerous is all I can say about them. Thelma and Louise love to live on the edge, as you know, but concussions are not ‘the edge’.
I keep wondering if I’ll ever do another triathlon. I like them, but not for the money I guess. Plus I suck on a bike, so there’s that. And I live in a land-locked state with no lakes, so there’s also that. But then I read your race and look at your darling tri-kit and I’m like, hmmmmmm…..
Caveman: he’s grounded!
I miss you girlie girl! Been so long since I’ve been over in blogland, but wanted to catch up with you. Let’s catch up – email me. (I’m kinda on the fence about Indy…..plus, I know people who have booked hotels there already….ugh).
Sounds like a difficult one! Congrats on sticking with it to the finish line!!
Don’t ask me what took so long to read this…It makes me sad! What a freaking day….just everything trying to steal your mojo and fun. I would have freaked out too getting kicked in the head.
It is fabulous you hung in there and finished! It is amazing how minutes feel like eternity when the clock is ticking, but you toughed it out and all that and just 5 minutes slower, that is quite a feat! Congrats Marcia you are one tough cookie 🙂