This song I am really loving right now. Good beat to run, cycle and kick ass too. Enjoy.
Da Da Ding
Well, it was about end of June that I found out I was invited to Nationals. Nationals, the Olympic race, you need to receive a certain invite to compete. I was excited. I had seen others attend this on Facebook and those are some fast girls. I will admit I looked at the results to make sure I wouldn't finish last. But, then I remembered I am okay with that, because it's Nationals! I entered. Excited for the opportunity. Now, for those that don't know, the Olympic distance is 1500 yard swim, 24 mile bike and a 10k at the end.
A bit of history: I have only competed in two previous Olympic distances. Both were horrible, both ended in tears and me being pissed off. I am good at sprint and long distances. Where my plan called I do this distance/race, I wasn't even going to look for a race but just do the distances on my own. That is how much I wanted to not race this distance. But then Nationals happened. And what better way to crush your comfort zone than doing the distance that has tripped you up in the past with the fastest people in the US, who basically didn't get into the Olympics at Rio (seriously...no...like for reals serious :-). But the 16 weeks of training I had put in had oddly made me just enjoy the process of going and racing my race.
Since I like to keep my bike on me at all times if possible, I decided to road trip down there. I asked my childhood bestie, Ashley, if she wanted to go. She did! That is a good friend that will go with you to Omaha and isn't in the sport. Oh man, the fun and shenanigans we got into is a post by itself-but it was a great girls trip we both needed. Car dance parties (check out the videos on FB), stopping in Sturgis, infamous Wall Drug, Corn Palace and Mt. Rushmore. Oh, and the big green dinosaur by Wall Drug that is a staple in my childhood travels. I also remember going to Wall Drug and Mt. Rushmore with my parents. Or as I like to call them "the guys." #dudesontherock
Next day, woke up and did my shake out ride around quiet little neighborhoods. Made sure everything clicked and was ready. We went to check in my bike and I met a fellow Betty teammate for a swim. Meeting up with Jill really was awesome. It was both of our first times there. The Ashley and I went to eat and I changed to head to the athlete briefing. After that I needed a nap. Imagine that! I love napping, I am a pro. I wonder if Lazy Boy would sponsor me.
Got up and I laid out all my stuff for the morning. I then met another Betty for dinner. She was staying right by me. Jen and I had been corresponding on meeting up and it was great we were right next to each other. Great dinner and conversation. We decided to drive to the race start in the morning. Ashley bless her heart was going to get up and drive me. But, this worked out for everyone. I got back to the hotel and chilled. Ashley and I watched the Olympics and then went to bed. I slept pretty decent-ish for before a race.
Woke up race morning and made it my goal to be grateful for this experience. I can get in the zone in a race and forget to enjoy it, to thank volunteers and smile. A simple goal to have, but can be challenging when you are in pain or struggling. Went down and got oatmeal and coffee and came up and sipped coffee. I didn't race until after 10 am and so I waited on the oatmeal. I did need coffee so I could do the all important poo before the race. Just keeping it real. Race and Betty tattoos on, gear packed, watch, Betty bracelet, road id and a USA bracelet my dad gave me that he got from the dollar store last year that I wear when I race. Ashley is snoozing and I head out the door to meet Jen.
We start out and it's a cluster f&*k. Roads closed and miscommunication. Athletes all over the place driving to get to the start. Transition closed by 7:25 am. So, you already have nervous athletes, that now can't get to the start or their bikes to set up. We finally get there and after realizing the cluster, the RD keeps transition open longer. Jen and I park and we hustle to our bikes. In transition I meet Kelsey and Katherine on the Betty Team. We are all close to each other. Checking and double checking our bikes and we head out......to wait. Kelsey, Katherine and I are in the same heat. Jen and Jill go earlier. Jen, Jill and I hit the bathrooms and get water and wait in the shade. Susan came over- another Betty (this girl is soo funny). We took pictures and Jen and Susan take off. Then Jill does and then it's me.
I go over to the swim and watch the heat in front of me. Then I find Kelsey and we head to the swim start. We say good luck and head to our own spots. The girl next to me on the pier introduces herself and we joke and we are just happy to be there. Cannon goes off and we head out. I opted to stay just right of the pack so I don't get as in the chaos and merge only to clear buoys. I got a little nervous before the swim, but I just told myself to go out and get it done. Just something you have to do for training and enjoy the day. Now, the swim was not wetsuit legal because of how warm the water was (84 degrees), so I had a skin suit over my tri suit and had been training in it for the past few weeks. Out of the water-it ended up being over 1700 yards and headed to transition. Where is the damn strap for this skinsuit!! Found it and put on my bike gear and started to the mount line....which was a half mile I swear!
On the bike I have been feeling stronger. I know that the first couple miles, like running, it takes me a moment to find my bike legs and for my quads to be readying to work. It was great because Jill gave me a Betty cowbell for Ashley to ring. So awesome to hear her voice cheering when I got out of the water. On the bike I was waiting for this hill that everyone was talking about. It was a Omaha/Iowa hill. Nothing for a Montana girl (although it was within the first couple miles, so that was less than awesome). I did see one girl off her bike, whizzed by and said "you got this girl!" I was passing the younger girls and felt really good. I had been heat training the last 3 weeks so I felt pretty good. Cruised the turnaround. On the bike I had my aero bottle with an electrolyte, I took one gel. I had taken on endurolyte as well. Every volunteered I passed I said thank you!! I was going over 20 mph at most of it, slowed on that hill, so average speed was 16.5 mph. A couple miles out my right glute started aching. It was ready to be done racing on the bike that day. A couple out of the seats to get blood flow and it would be fine for a bit. Never had this in training, but it could be that I was just leaning more that day to my right. All I hoped it wasn't going to cramp on the run. But no negative thoughts!! Got to T2 to get off my bike, took my shoes off before running in. The transition was bumpy grass and I just knew I would snap my ankle off. Heading out with shoes on was tricky. I hear Ashley and I smile. She gave me a burst of energy! Grabbed my number and put on my shoes and hat and headed out.
This point it's in the 80 degrees with humidity, but I was ready. I checked to see where the aid stations were ahead of time and decided not to carry my usual running belt, just my race belt and drink what was on the course. Before I could even get to the first aid station, I heard an ambulance and looked to my right and a guy had collapsed and medics were helping him. I get to the first aid station. They ran out of water and just got refilled and were filling cups. I stopped and waited for a second, it wasn't worth it to go another mile with no liquids. Grabbed waters and 1 Gatorade. I am not a fan of Gatorade because of the sugar, but my method was this :1 water to drink, 1 to pour on my head and sip a couple sips of Gatorade. Then I headed to the next aid station. Which as one athlete described as running through the Sahara Desert. Just a long, hot, straight shot to it. I see Kelsey on this section first. Girl is killing it and focused. I see another girl just stop and throw up. That stuff doesn't phase me. But, I needed to race smart. My race, my pace. I then saw Jill and we high-fived! Then Katherine. And this other lady next to her high-fived me! Reach the next aid station and do the same method. Next to the stadium (and aid station). You know, the one you see on TV for baseball and softball championships. We run through it and see ourselves on the big screen. At this point I am alone. I thank the volunteers and encourage other runners heading in and I keep on my pace and methods. Head back now to finish. Hit the aid station and grab my usual and some ice. Shove ice in my bra and inside my cap on my head. Keep running. Jingle jangle of ice. Then I grab some ice out of my bra and eat it. A girl catches up to me and says "it's a hot one today." We laugh. I run again and she continues to walk. I get to the last aid station (which was the first) and they have no water. What the French Toast?! Keep going. Notice my bib is ripped on one side and hanging by one hole. Keep track of it so it doesn't go bye bye and I get a penalty. I head in. Athletes encouraging me, volunteers being awesome and shouting. Before I head into the shoot, I grab my number off my race belt and hold it above my head when I run down the shoot. They say my name and they say "We see your number Anna O'Donnell, Congratulations!!" Ashley is there cheering and the volunteers greet me with water, a cold towel and Gatorade. I want to kiss them all. I let them know the aid station was out of water. They ran to deliver some. Julie was there too! I got my medal. We took pictures and then the girl I talked to came in and I went over and high-fived her!
Julie directed me to the ice back pool and we caught up. Ashley took more pictures. She was a proud bestie :-) Loved that ice bath. Julie said it was so nice to have each other there.
I went and collected my things and Ashley got the car. I took pictures with another girl and we chatted for a bit. Then I went to get a hot dog, tried to eat and couldn't just yet.
While waiting for the car, I thought about the day overall. My goal was to get in before they penalize you for being too slow. I wanted to feel good and stick to my plan-I did. I thanked all the volunteers and raced with a grateful heart. No crashes. I completely raced there outside of my comfort zone of distance, heat and with some speedy MoFos. I ended this race with the biggest grin, rather than the biggest tears. I felt good. I was with my friends and teammates. They all crushed it. The experience overall was so amazing. Thank you all for the texts and FB comments. Thank you to my dad, mom and my aunt Cheri for believing in me and helping me get to Nationals. Thank you Ashley for being a great sherpa and cheerleader (you still got it!) and saying you are proud of me. It means a lot. It meant a lot that you see what I put my passion into and the love I have for this sport. Thank you for the amazing memories we have now and the laughter until we almost peed (or maybe peed ;-))-all of this is priceless.
