Sylvan Lake HIM 08

Well now it's been 3 weeks since Great White and I have only done 4 swim/7 bikes / 4 runs. The swims went well even though they were not that long. I enjoyed the bike rides once I got the metal sliver out of the tire causing 3 fl*ts. (I can't say that word nor will I type it) The runs well..... that has not gone so enjoyable. I went up to Nose Hill and ran around there in the heat of the day and suffered through it.

I had mixed feelings going into this race I have to admit. I had such a good feeling after Finishing Great White and tried to remember why I signed up for 2 Halfs which isn't the smartest thing to do so close back to back. The plan way back in the winter was that my Grandparents would be able to come to Stony Plain to watch me race for the first time. Unfortunately they don't travel as well as they used to. But I still had family show up to watch so it made me feel good.

Coach called me a few days before Sylvan and gave me a good pep talk to raise my spirits. I had myself convinced that I would not stop especially on the run, infact I wrote an obsene message on my hand race morning to that fact to modivate me.

I had attended the pre-race meeting and supper. I had people joining me at the table I picked and found that one lady did this the second year and finished last at 9:30hrs, one guy from GP stated that he would be last out of the water.... folks I was sitting with my compeition.

I arrived at Wanda's place on Friday and they just purchased Gutair Hero for their wii so that was good prerace entertainment. I stayed up a bit longer than I planned but oh well watching Rob took my mind off the fact I had a race in the am.

Woke up at 5:30am and was racking my bike at 6:05, I liked the spot I picked. I was right up against a support leg so I knew my bike wouldn't be pushed further, it was on the grass so I would not have to run on the gravel and near the bike exit. I knew with my precription goggles I could see enough as I ran. Oh and I lost my other set of goggles so I ran out to the swim shop thursday to buy this pair. Wanda and my Mom have a rule no precription goggles they will not come and watch. Something about being blind as a bat and not seeing the markers.

I walked down the beach to the far washroom but it was locked... so much for my no line up secret. So I wandered back and lined up for the only THREE portapotties.... 350 athletes.... 1.5 hour to race time.... do the math... one lady said she was in line for 45min good thing I got that taken care of before the line got huge. Note for next time A&W accross the street.

As I hung out I saw a few familier faces. Including "one crank" from GWN. It felt good to know that I was not the only person trying 2 races this close. She later tracked me down on facebook to compare stories.

Well this brings us to 7:30 when I got my wetsuit on with the help of my rack neigbour. I found Wanda, Robert and Warren and chatted with them instead of looking out at the swim markers. I remembered from last year getting freaked out not being able to see the far set, mind you that was before my prescription goggles. I got myself in the water and because I swim with ear plugs I could barely hear the countdown. All of a sudden people infront of me were going. How did they know???

I learned from Wasa that I did not have to seed my start at the very back as I can keep up for a while. So I am swimming with a few people around me and there is no hitting or nothing it was actually very nice. I got myself to the first turn (700m) and there were still people with me so I felt fairly good and still enjoying the day.

Then I see this DAMED FOOL swim across my path, I quickly sited to see if I had not made the turn right. Nope this guy is 90 degrees to the course he is heading straight for shore. Ok what ever, a few moments go by and he cuts me off again. This time I am pissed and yell at him " GO that way" and pointed... it worked I didn't see him again. I know that I had 4-5 people around me at this time. There were two ladies having a conversation as they breast stroked. One of them sounded like a seal as she breathed I wanted to get away from her because that didn't sound right to me.

So the 400m stretch to the second turn I started feeling the waves. Nothing crazy I thought to myself. Every so often when I rolled to breath I would still be under water. I knew I could go for another set of strokes on what air I had left so no panic. But then it started happening more and more. I started feeling woozy 900m into the race... ya that's right half freeking way. I got my escort boat at about the second turn, a nice lady in an orange Kyack. She was quite, encouraging and enjoying her paddle. Thank goodness I didn't get the guy in the red one, he was yelling at the swimmer to keep going and was getting kinda rude about it. I remember thinking that if he was doing that to me I would ask. "got your roll skirt on?" and I grab his paddle so he can shut his trap before I pull him in.

Just after the second turn I asked her if it was possible to get sea sick on a lake. She said these rollers could affect a person swimming and suggested I close my eyes and get lower in the water. At this time I am very near the back of the pack and the RCMP power boat starts to follow us to shore. This is where I started to taste gas as I breathed for air and I started thinking, can I puke in the water to feel better for the bike.

I got close to the pier and I recognized the kid I chatted with yesterday in a boat. He must have recognized me and he calls out "you got 4 min to the cut off". I know I do 3 min per 100m in a pool when I am feeling good and I remembered someone saying at 150m it gets shallow enough to walk. A quick look at the bottom and I couldn't see anything but weeds. I knew at that moment I would not make the cut off.

I stumbled onto land and the lady from the ATA was there to ask how I was feeling and if I wanted to continue. Well she had grabbed my elbow to get my attention and she would not let go and it quite honestly was pissing me off. I like walk a bit ok stumble to help my inner ear stabalize and she was holding me in place by the elbow. Wanda said that my face was very pale and my eyes were red, when she told me this I realized my googles didn't leak because they probably were too tight. I had a head ach and felt very qweesy, I kept thinking about puking.

Rob found some graval at a drug store and I chewed on a couple peices as we waited for the first bike guys to come back. About an hour later I let the most horrible sounding gassy burp from the depths of my gut and I felt SOOOOOooo much better. It was a treat to see quick people racing, the first guy racked his bike, bent at the waist and came up all changed and running... wow is all I could say.

I saw something that made me shake my head. We were hanging out at the entrence to T2 and the volunteer was told to look out for someone that had been tagged for a drafting penelty and was not very happy about it. Rob joked with the lady saying if she needed back up to let him know. There was two volunteers that didn't see the guy and when they did the timming chip had been passed to the runner and he had taken off. So the 4 min in the sin bin didn't happen as per the rules that we as athletes are all aware of. It's only beaten into our heads at every race DON'T DRAFT you will be stopped and given a penalty. Well the volunteer was doing as she was asked and he talked back to her a bit and a runner waiting for her teammate stepped in and said "nobody's going to the olympics over this race so don't worry about it. Just tell him ____ says it's ok." my jaw dropped at my discust at this lady's attitude that she could override the rules of the event. My respect for this lady that I do know dropped significanlty as it really rattled the volunteer.

If this was sea sickness from the waves and breathing in gas fumes I care not to repeat it. I was very distressed and upset that this is the second time I didn't finish the Sylvan Half. As I write this on Wednesday I have come to accept what happened. I was asked to text my coach my results and I couldn't bring myself to do it untill after supper. He was riding the Golden Triangle in a day (330km and 4 mountain passes) and I didn't want to wreck his day with my news.

I kinda shut myself down mentaly and over the few days as my friends asked about the race it slowly became easier to tell the tale. Much appologies to the first few that got the one word responces to questions.

700m to first turn 0:17:43 (2.46m/100m)
400m to second turn 0:20:41 (5.18m/100m)
800m to shore 0:34:18 (4.28m/100m)
total 1:12:44 (3.79m/100m swim cut off 1:10:00