Caine Halter YMCA Sprint sufferfest …

Well, I’m two weeks past my half ironman and I have to say the workouts have been nonexistent to minimal. Ok, 2 workouts in two weeks . . .but not by choice. The shoulder flared up again after the half and I was happy to get through my days at work w/the pain so working out wasn’t really an option. Two weeks later, a steroid shot, and some meds I’m on my way to working out again. I’d already signed up for the Caine Halter YMCA Sprint though, and I’m not one to waste money. More than I care to talk about occurred the day before the tri, my steroid shot, surgery talk, irate threatening customer (who happens to live in my neighborhood), oh and my wedding anniversary. Needless to say my head was somewhere else along w/my body, but I can focus when I need to.

The race wasn’t going to be an easy one, it’s actually the shortest race I’ve ever done. The tri consisted of a 300 yard swim, 9 mile bike, and 5k run. This distance equals complete and utter suffer fest. The morning of goes pretty smoothly considering I get to the race site before they even open. I get my bike racked, and transition set up. My swim time I put in was a little slow so I was told I could start a little earlier, and get in line w/Sarah the swimmer. I just hope I can hang onJ. Then I see that there will be no drafting help at all, they are giving each person enough time that this will truly be an all out effort w/no extra help. I loved the clear water w/no backup, I was neither passed nor did any passing. I tried to go as hard as I could, and it probably hurt me in the long run. If I’d had taken things a little smoother my time surely would have been better, but shoulda woulda coulda. I don’t remember what my watch said, but I remember being disappointed. 5:23 was the mat time. I’ve got some catching up to do is all I could think of.

The bike was 3 loops and 9 miles long. The loops aren’t easy. I just remember telling myself this is going to hurt. The hills weren’t short enough to stand up and power through, but not so long you wanted to spin them out. I wound up just working as hard as I could for as long as I could. I played cat and mouse w/one girl and managed to keep her at bay, but my heartrate was through the roof. Either my bike computer was off, or I was maxed like never before on the bike. My time was 25:29 and I’ve never been so happy to be done. I have no idea what my legs will do after that bike or my missed workouts but I’m willing to give it all I’ve got.

I head out on the run still suffering from the jacked up h/r and of course you start out on a long gradual climb. I just wanted to keep that same girl behind me, but am convinced that she will pass me soon. I feel like I’m going all out, but refuse to look at my watch to see what the pace is. Finally I hit a straight away and then downhill, I pass this guy in a Clemson outfit (shocking I know!) and then see Sarah’s mom. It was seriously like I was having an out of body moment, I haven’t seen her since last year and I had no idea she was going to be out there. Seeing her gave me a little motivation to keep on going though. The downhill turned into another somewhat flat stretch, but I feel horrible. I feel like I’m maxed yet my time I finally look at indicates something else. I’m doing an 8 min. mile and am not even halfway through. I finally get to mile 2 and seriously feel like my shoulder is going to rip the next time my arm goes back. I go back and forth trying to decide what to do and finally walk. I did that a couple more times for 10 seconds or so and make it to the last .25 mile. I’m running, but completely done and then that guy in the Clemson outfit passes me. Ugh, Katie and others start yelling for me not to let him go. I give it a good effort, but I know I can’t keep the pace to the finish. I just can’t catch him. I get to the finish line dry heaving and thinking someone’s going to have some puke to clean up. My run was 24:52, and my total finish time was 57:21.

I finished the race 6th overall female and 2nd in my age group. I like that this race was in my hometown, but this race was far from easy. Probably one of the hardest things I’ve done and also the shortest. I was so happy to see Heath and Addison at the finish, and thanks to my hubby for understanding and postponing our anniversary celebrations a day. We’ve been married a magical 11 years, and it never gets easier but it always gets better as the years pass. Special thanks to Sarah Parker and her family for watching Addison for the day and night while Heath and I got to spend some much needed one on one time.

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