AC Challenge 2014: A few lessons learned

This was my first try at an iron distance event and safe to say I walked away with many thoughts in my head about the many things I learned.  The main thing I learned was how important it is to help each other and what a difference it can make.   Everyone has a bad race day once and a while and it is awesome to be part of a team where there are people around who want to help you be your best, to push onward and to get it done. 

As I got on the dock post swim I was convinced I was done for the day and then I heard them call Michele’s name.  In that moment I went from DNF to the transition tent to find her.    Sunday was my bad race day, and luckily I had a fellow Devil there to tell me to keep going and go on to earn first in my age group, 7th woman overall. I look forward to the day I can pass on my good fortune and help someone else to get it done. 

Here are my 4 main lessons learned:

1 – BRING EVERYTHING YOU MIGHT OR MIGHT NOT NEED TO SWIM.  I had my wetsuit, and the day before started to worry it might be warm so we purchased a wetsuit without arms.  Swam in it for 5 minutes and considered myself good to go in either situation.  Go to the swim and it was wetsuit illegal. Did I have my speed suit?  No, it was nice and dry at home.  No excuse for that, it was a dumb move.  I have scratches on my legs from some woman’s nails at the start I could have happily avoided.

2 – BRING FOOD. I always give great thought to my race day nutrition yet when it comes to the evening before I rely on luck at finding something that will give me no issues race day.  This will be my last race where I do not bring my own dinner for the night before AND coffee for the morning of.  I will never again try to race on the hotel in-room coffee.

3 – RESEARCH EVENT.  If I ever do another aqua-bike event I will be sure to research the layout to ensure that the race ends in the same location as the full 3 part event.  Bit of a buzz kill to finish and be left in a field full of empty racks with nothing but water and a few Gatorades which I had no desire to go near.

4 – Lastly, PENALTIES HAPPEN.  No matter how vigilant you might be on the course you cannot predict when that motorcycle will pass you and things just happen (e.g., bottle cages full of your favorite drink and your spare tube/cartridges falling off your bike and heading off into a blueberry farm field).  This 6 minute penalty was my first in over 20 years of doing tris…  I am guessing it will not be my last.

As always the biggest thanks go to my race day Sherpa John Shipley. Thank you for your patience while I went through this "learning" experience over the last two months.