Roadrunner: HITS Grand Junction 140.6

Grand Junction, Colorado - Iron distance #3.

Pre-race

The week leading into the race, I had the stomach flu. Bad timing!!!! Feeling drained from that, I debated whether to switch to the half distance. Finally, at packet pick up on Friday afternoon, I decided to go for the full distance. With that decision, I knew I had to go into the race with zero expectations and throw out all my time goals. My new goal was just to survive to the finish line. I questioned if I had enough energy to even complete the distance, but I wanted to give it a shot.

We arrived at the race site in the morning at 6 a.m. to set up transition. I thought the transition area was great! Each racer had a slot for their bike, a stool, and a little "cubby" for their gear. Usually you are crammed next to other races trying to squeeze all of your stuff into a little area. There was plenty of room! After setting up transition, we headed down to the water.

Assigned a spot next to Chris. Sweet!!!

SLTC / BAM representing!

The Swim - Highland Lake - 2.4 miles - 2 loops. The swim start was at 7 a.m. after pre-race instruction and a prayer. Stepping in the water, the lake felt a lot colder than it had the previous day. But the water always seems to feel cold at first and then normally I warm up pretty quick. All the half and full distance athletes started at the same time in one big mass start. I really didn't mind the mass start. What's a few more elbows, kicks, and people swimming over and into each other - it's all part of the swim start fun! Plus there were a LOT more people competing in the half distance and far fewer in the full. At least for the first loop, I would have a large group to follow and help search out the buoys.

After the countdown, I took the plunge into the water -it took my breath away! No big deal! Just the initial shock of colder water. It took me longer than I would have liked to get my breathing under control and finally I found a rhythm where I could breathe every 3rd stroke. My feet were cold and getting numb and I didn't feel like my body was warming up. All things considering the first loop wasn't too bad. Once I finished the first loop, I got out of the water, rounded the cone, and before I headed out for my 2nd lap I shouted to Chad that I didn't think I had enough pee to keep me warm. :) The 2nd loop, wasn't as great as the first. For some reason, my body just didn't warm up. I felt my muscles in my arms and legs tense up and my swim stroke was rigid and I felt like I was barely moving. Rounding one of the buoys I looked to my side and this guy popped his head out the water and turned to me and said, "I can't feel my face!" Just the way he said it made me laugh. I wasn't the only one freezing my butt off! I knew by the time I got to the run later on in the day, I would be wishing I was back in the cold water. Just keep swimming!!! I finally made it out of the water. My feet felt like rocks and my body was shaking, which made for a not so graceful fall going up the steps on the beach. Kind of embarrassing, but looking back it was probably funny to watch. Chad stripped off my wetsuit and then I put on his jacket since I couldn't stop shaking and headed to transition. I kept his jacket on for awhile on the bike until I warmed up. So aerodynamic!! Again, providing comic relief for all those who were watching.

The bike - 2 loops - 112 miles. The bike course had 2 out and back sections. The first section was mostly rolling hills. The second section was a long slight incline going out and then you came back to the bike start to repeat it all over again. The inclines and hills weren't anything difficult, it was the changing wind that added a bit of a challenge.

Into my first loop, around mile 30, I already felt like my "energy tank" was nearing empty. I had started the race not at full strength and with being sick I didn't know when it would catch up to me. Well, it caught up to me sooner than I thought. What to do?! Keep fueling - keep pedaling and hope for the

best. I was a little bummed. I liked the bike course and wanted to push a faster pace, but had to just be grateful that I was still moving forward. I saw Chad a few times out on the bike course. He shouted out updates on my friends that were running the Ogden marathon. They were on their own race journey and I loved to hear how they were doing. It gave my mind something else to focus on. I managed to complete both loops of the bike and at that point I was pretty much in survival mode.

The run - 2 loops - 26.2 miles. The run had a few good hills, but the majority of it was a gentle roll or flat. The run consisted of dirt and paved roads, which I didn't mind the variation. Heading out onto the run, my stomach did not feel good at all.

It was pretty warm - around 82 degrees and not a lot of shade. My body started to rebel by mile 2 and that is when I started throwing up everything that I attempted to eat or drink. Even though I couldn't keep anything down, I kept eating and drinking at every aid station (which were well stocked). I have been at the point in races where I have felt like I was running on fumes, but I was even beyond that point. I really don't know how I managed to put one foot in front of the other. I would walk, run, puke, eat and drink and then repeat the cycle all over. I managed to pass 2 women just before completing my first loop. I so desperately wanted to be done.

As I circled the cone to head out for my second loop, the race director told me that I was the lead female. I had to press forward. It was the weirdest feeling. With the exception of my stomach muscles (which ached), my body wasn't sore, but my mind and body felt completely drained. Being a smaller race, there wasn't the energy of several racers or spectators on the course to draw from.
That drive to keep going forward had to come from within.

Step by step, I was chipping away the miles to the finish line. With 2 miles left, I felt really dizzy and sat down on the side of the road. I knew I had quite the distance on the ladies behind me and wanted to make sure I survived to the finish. I finally dragged my body off the ground and inched towards the finish. I was so relieved to see the finish line and my family and friends cheering me in. It gave me a little boost to dance through the finish line. 1st overall female - 12:53:30. My slowest time in an Iron distance tri - but I was just grateful to have survived! For winning, I was hooked up with a wetsuit and sunglasses - pretty sweet! This was the 2nd year for the HITS Grand Junction race. I thought that the event was well organized and the venue was great! I hope that it grows into something bigger.