« Some Pics | Main | My Newest Theory »
August 7, 2007
Beach Starts and Recovery
I forgot to mention in my race report about the start of the race - the BEACH start of the race.
Somewhere along the way it occured to me that we weren't going to get to start in the water like I'm used to. In all my triathlons thus far we all get in the water and then someone yells go and we all start swimming like crazy. This is what I'm used to. So when I realized Saturday was going to be a start on dry land I started to have some anxiety. I wondered how it worked...did you run in the water...did you dive in...did you just start swimming...how quickly did the water drop off? It was all very worrisome.
But luckily I wasn't in the first wave. So I watched the start of the pro wave because if anyone would know how to do it it would be the pros. And boy was I surprised! The starter yelled go and all of a sudden all the pros were running down the beach on the hard sand! There was no swimming to be found! I was befuddled. Until they got good and lined up with the first buoy...then they started into the water, first running and then doing these dolphin like moves until they finally started to swim. I think they were already out to the first buoy by the time some of them took their first stroke! Of course this makes sense though - swimming is obviously much slower than running.
So I'm all ready to do the same when it's my turn except the problem is...or should I say problems are...that (1) there are about 200 people in my wave so running down the beach is not going to be as easy (there were only about 10 pros total) and (2) I have no idea how to do that dolphin move like they did. So what did I do? Some odd combo of diving and then swimming and then getting up and running some and then diving again and then thankfully at some point I finally reached deep enough water to just swim. I can only imagine how ugly that was. :) If I encounter any more of those types of starts I definitely need to practice a bit more! :)
Anyway, my recovery is definitely starting to come around. Today I could actually walk normally. The day after the race I jogged (but really should have just walked as it might have been faster) for 15 minutes. On Monday I swam 500 yds. (I know - don't go overboard right?! :) and then this morning I spun a very easy 45 minutes on the trainer before work. Tomorrow I'm going to run again - maybe 35-45 minutes and then I will email my coach and the new "plan" begins! Oh...did I mention I have a massage scheduled for tomorrow? What better timing?! ;)
And so it goes! Hope everyone has a great night!
Posted by beth at August 7, 2007 8:01 PM