Galena Duathlon

Can't believe I haven't updated here in a while.... time flies I guess


I know I won't be able to describe my adventure in as elegant a fashion as Julie does but I promised Robin I'd share my story when we got home from Galena.This weekend we traveled to Galena IL where I participated in the 12th Annual Galena Triathlon/Duathlon. Kevin has done this race for 3 years now and has always done the tri, however he didn't want my first adventure into open water to be Apple Canyon Lake where some years they have had to move hunks of ice to take the temp of the water - apparently if the water is below a certain temp they will cancel the swim part. However I think this year was the warmest he can recall, a warm balmy 64 degree water temp :o) - THANK HEAVENS I was doing the duathlon...Friday we arrived in Galena and Kevin, Lori and I went to pick up our race packets and put our bikes in the transition area 1. This is all so very new to me and I am so thankful to be hanging with folks that are seasoned at this sport, its very helpful because I would have had NO clue what the hell to do with my stuff in the bike transition. Kevin got himself set up then came over and helped me. Basically you find your spot on the bike racks, there are numbers on the sides of the racks that state 1000 - 1100 and then you find your spot on that rack where your race number and name will be marked with an address label of sorts. I was number 1228, easy to remember and my bike was on the end of the rack almost. So we get this done and then we had to head over to transition area #2 and get that set up. Its not an out and back course so if your doing the tri or the duathlon that first transition is the same spot. You get a huge bag with your number on it and on race day when you come out of the water or off the run if doing the duathlon, you need to get all your stuff, wet suit, googles, running shoes, etc, into that bag as the race volunteers schelp those bags from T1 to T2. What a chore that must be for those folks!Then we were off to T2 area. The duathlon is a 2 mile run, 16.8 mile bike and a 4.3 mile run, so since its not out and back if your doing the duathlon you have to have two pair of running shoes. You do your first run in one pair, get to T1, get in your bike shoes, then do the bike course then your at t2 where you need that 2nd pair of shoes for the 2nd run - again thankfully I had folks that knew what they were doing or how would I have ever know I needed two pair of running shoes... So the path to the T2 set up area is the same route of the bike course... OMgosh if you have never been to Galena, first go, its beautiful, 2nd I swear to you some of those freaking hills could be down hill ski slopes in the winter time! I am sure my face was whiter than white as we drove over this course - all I could think of in the back of my mind is HOW IN THE NAME OF ALL THAT IS GOOD AM I GOING TO MAKE IT UP THESE HILLS! Folks I'm not kidding they are some mean looking climbs, and the downhill is just as bad. So we get to T2 I get that area set up, basically just need my running shoes and my hat, then we are off to find the place we are staying at. But of course not before I get a look at the first part of the 2nd run, it is a very daunting uphill run. I think in earlier times before the area was populated, I'd bet there was a tow rope and ski area at the top :o) Satruday - The day started with me very quite which I guess is how I get when I'm really nervous about something. The friends we were with are all pretty seasoned triathletes and assured me I'd do fine. I however was not so sure as the day before we drove the first run course and the bike course and I saw the first hill you climb on the 2nd run.We arrive with enough time to get into the T1 area just to make sure all still looks ok, pull the bags off our seats (put there to avoid a wet seat from condensation), put our bike shoes out, helmets at the ready, then head over to watch the first group of swimmers take the water... Again I am so amazed at all the various shapes and sizes, makes and models of folks that compete in this sport. I really wanted to stay to see Kevin's wave hit the water but had to get to the start of the duathlon first run, of course at the top of a hill :o) - Kristin and Steve were doing the duathlon also so I was not alone, well least not at the start, they are both much better athletes than me and while I knew I'd spend my time on the course alone, I was not alone at the start... My wave went off at 10:04 and was the last wave of the duathlon. Kristin wished me well and off she went. I was having serious serious doubts about making it through all this on the first run. It was only two miles but I'm telling you Galena is very hilly and I'm not use to that. I have to admit even on the first run, I had to walk a portion of the hills. Get to the turn around and head back. You know up hill running will be hard but let me tell you downhill isn't a whole lot better, you get going to fast and you will find yourself ass over tin cup, flat on your face, and you will KILL your quads and I knew mine had a very hilly 16.8 mile bike to contend with - so I took it easy on the down side too. Get about a 1/2 mile from T1 maybe less and there is Kevin - I was like what the hell are you doing.... Well the TRI Gods were not shining on my sweetie that day, he blew a tire coming out of T1, back tire none the less, fixed that puppy in less than 2 minutes, but had a bad tube or pinched it as it blew again, then he lost a couple of gears off the back cassette of his bike, so sadly his day was done. He shouted this to me as I ran by and it sure weighed on my mind, I was bummed for my sweetie, but now more determined to finish as best as I could to make him proud - he is such a wonderful support of me and sometimes I am a REAL bitch to deal with when training... I was going to finish for me as much as him.Get to T1, out of run shoes, in the bag, get on bike shoes, helmet, wipe sweat off my face, unrack bike and I'm outta there. Took longer than I would have like when I looked at my stats but transitions you have to practice as much as the events themselves, but tis ok, its all new to me. Once again I am thankful for having Kevin's support and advice, because you have a climb coming right out of T1, literally right out of it and if your bike is not geared properly - small ring in front, big ring in back, you are screwed trying to get up that hill. I just smiled as I passed a few struggling because I was geared properly and made it up that puppy seated!!!!I wish I could have enjoyed more of the countryside along the way but I was on a mission to finish that bike ride... It was tough, there were many spots that folks were off their bikes and walking up the hills. Even I had a tough time on the first couple. I was frightened by the speed I gained on the downhills and used my brake a bit too much and thus lost the advantage of that speed for the next uphill. I quickly learned to pray hard to God on the downhills and use that speed gained for the next uphill. Believe me when you look down on your speedometer on your BIKE and your seeing numbers in the 30's, it will scare the life out of you, one wrong move and your road kill - but as I said I learned quickly to go with it and it helped alot after those first couple of hills to give me the power to get up the next, that and proper gearing... I did pop my chain once, but you would have thought I was a pro the way I jumped off, got that sucker back on and BAM was on my way again. thankfully it popped very near the top of a hill :o) - I was amazed that I was actually passing people up and not just on the downhill portion of the bike but going up the hills. Passed the big sign that said JESUS SAVES and I knew at that point I was over 1/2 way. Then there was a couple long side the road cheering competitors on and said your going to make it, less than a mile to go, this after a pretty grueling climb, I said PLEASE tell me that was the last up hill climb.. he said you have one more and its small, now go get em' you can do this. I smiled and said thank you! Then just as he said, one more small climb and I could hear the music, hear the people, and then..... I heard Kevin shouting for me, screaming I was going to do this and at that point your damn right I was... I was almost in tears realizing that ride was behind me, that ride that the day before when we drove it I swore I'd never survive, but freakin' eh right I had survived it and I had energy, I was pumped at this point. I knew a hard run lay ahead but by gosh I was going to finish. So into T2, change to run shoes, throw helmet and bike shoes in th bag and off I go... again I gotta work on transitions, both were almost 3 minutes, but they didn't feel like it thats for sure. And silly me no idea you could run your bike into transition. Oh well...So out of the gate and off to the run, there is Kevin cheering for me, telling me that the only thing that lies between me and the finish is stubborness and 4.3 miles and I can do it... I was amazed that I actually had enough in my legs to run out of T2 and started to run up the hill but very quickly into it had to walk, its one tough hill and like I said before I swear it was a tow rope for a ski slope at some point! The run was not AS hilly as the first but still challenging, my run time dropped way down but I was ok with that, #1 I had already run a tough 2 miles and #2 biked a demanding 16.8, so the fact my time was almost 13 min miles I was fine with. The folks at the water stop near the turn around were WONDERFUL, encouraging, clapping, cheering, telling you, ok you only have the other 1/2 to go. Got to the turn around and so much was going thru my head, all the self doubt I had was gone, I KNEW I was going to finish, I had no real goal time, my only goal WAS to finish. Got to the end of the run and that same first hill up, is now the same you have to go down. I slowed my pace a bit as I didn't want to go face first into the pavement, I could hear Kevin, Kristin, Lori and Steve all yelling my name, it was awesome! Finally got there, did some high fives, still running because I was not at the finish yet.. I do recall saying where is that freaking mat(meaning the finish line)! Got to the flat part and sprinted to the finish, and let me say OMgosh I have NO idea where the power came from for that finish, it was pure adrenline. I crossed that mat and there was Kevin - I was so glad I had sunglasss on so he couldn't see the tears welling in my eyes. I DID IT, I MADE IT and had energy to still stand and walk when it was over. I don't know if I was more proud of me or if Kevin was, I think it was shared equally.Walked over got an apple and a banana, some water, then walked over to the post party to find our crew. I think it took many hours for the smile to be removed from my face, and its still inside internally. I was shocked that I had any energy left at all, we hung at post party a while, then headed back, showered, went to a friend of a friends BBQ, then went to downtown Galena for some local event and dinner... Finally after a couple bottles of WELL deserved wine, we had with dinner, the fatique was setting in, so Kevin and I went back and I don't think my head even hit the pillow before I was out and I slept like a baby!!!My time was 2 hrs, 46 mins, 15 seconds... As Robin said, a PR for me :o) and something to now have a marker for improvement for - I think I will definately do this again next year and somehow must talk MsRobin into this one as she has talked me into some things! If I'm sorry about anything this weekend, its #1 that Kevin had a mishap with his day and #2 I missed coaches show and seeing some awesome LL folks but I know Robin told me everyone was rooting for me, so thank you ALL for the wonderful thoughts! I will take some time to check out all the photos Robin sent!I felt so on top of the world after this! I wish I could bottle that feeling and drink from it every single day!