My second triathlon did not go as smoothly as the first, but again I learned a ton more lessons. Kris and I left on Thursday morning for a couple of days of camping before the race. We arrived at Big Bear Lake, CA and enjoyed the much cooler temperatures. On Friday night Jake arrived with his family and we spent the evening at his campground carbo-loading on spaghetti.
Race morning I felt great, but once the race started I couldn’t get into any sort of rhythm. I could breathe in fine, but had the hardest time exhaling. After even a few strokes I was gasping for breath.
After my 2nd stop holding onto a kayak, I decided to call it a day. I got a ride on a jet ski back to the start. They said I was welcome to complete the bike and run if I wanted.
I trudged to the transition area and grumpily headed out on the 17 mile ride around the lake. It is really hard to stay upset for long when riding in such beautiful surroundings. I am so glad I decided to continue and not just mope around the rest of the day. Continuing not only helped me process the frustration of the swim, but allowed me to enjoy the rest of our vacation as well. Not happy with the DNF, but it was still a fun day.
Kris and I stayed in Big Bear another 2 days after the race, and had a wonderful time.
After hours of research on what happened during my swim, I think I know how to adjust for future races. Apparently, sticking my face into the cold water initiates the gasping reflex. The way to combat it is to make sure you get a good warm-up in the water before the race starts. Getting your face in the water and practicing your breathing before the race can help get adjusted to the cold. I also need to get to the lake more for training outside of the pool.
I hope that this will alleviate the problem as my 18 week training plan starts Monday!
theironpalm 
Craig – This is a very inspiring story. I am getting ready for a sprint triathlon next weekend, and had a very frustrating run in the heat yesterday. I think it is supposed to be hot next weekend, and I was getting discouraged. But reading this helps me realize that I can’t learn or grow if I don’t try.
To ad to your “swim lesson” a couple of summers I did a sprint tri in Waterville NH in June. The swim was in a spring fed pond and despite the warm weather I saw everyone wearing wet suits. It seemed like there were only a couple of us without. Well, when I dove in I found out why, that water was literally breath taking. I thought I was going to drown from the shock. But I slowed my breathing way down and pushed through. It was slow, but I made it.
Anyway, I’m not elite athlete like you, but it helps me to see that others have challenges too.
Happy Birthday (soon right?)
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Thanks, Margaret! “Elite”???? Well, I am no Martin Tracey, but thanks. Good luck on your upcoming race. Cant wait to hear how you do.
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