Lavaman 2012

First destination race is complete!  Not sure if signing up for a race and going on vacation is something I want to do again.  Or, if I do, then I would have a different attitude about it.  Basically, we were just on a schedule the first few days --> picking up rented bikes (they were nice, but not ours), practice ride, learning how to shift on different components, figuring out how to get two water bottles to fit in a small frame, packet pickup, practice swim, athlete meeting, figuring out  the right breakfast/nutrition options when no restaurants would be open at the butt crack of dawn, etc.  It was all just chores to get ready for the race.   When I did Ironman, that was the focal point (and I had a house and not a hotel).  But with Lavaman, my focal point was Hawaii and there was this silly race in the middle of it....  

Sunday morning went very smoothly.  We rode our bikes to Transition, got body marked, picked up timing chips, set up Transition (they were strict on how the bikes could be racked and that everything we needed had to fit in one little bag, which I really liked because it was so orderly) and headed to the beach.  

For the swim wave, I felt like I placed myself exactly where I did at Ironman, which was perfect.  I put myself in a similar spot for this wave and apparently the fast girls were all behind me because I was passed left and right.  The funniest part of the swim was that as soon as the marine life started, there was a noticeable slow down as people were looking at the happy place under the sea (one of my friends had to stop for a turtle crossing in front of her -- how awesome is that?!?!).  At the first turn, I was caught up with the slower swimmers from the first wave.  And, by the second turn, the men's wave behind ours was pummeling through.  I was out of the water earlier than my last Olympic, which was great (especially considering I have only swam three times since November).  

The run from the water to Transition was challenging with the sand, rocks, and gravel.  I could barely run because my feet were so sensitive on the rocks.  There were kiddie pools set up to run through to rinse your feet off.  All I could see/feel was the dirt that was in the pools.  The guy in front of me yelled sarcastically, "Well that really helped!"

Once I got on the bike and out on the Queen K, there was lava on both sides and I could see cyclists in a straight line for miles.  It was an incredible feeling.  I think I was only on Mile 4 when I saw Macca coming in for his bike finish.  Crazy!  There was some headwind on the way out, I was on an aluminum bike, had no aeros, had difficulty maintaining my speed while reaching for my bottles (different style cages).  I also had no bike computer and my heart rate monitor never registered so I was totally blind.  But it was ok, especially because I never had any discomfort!!!  25 miles means no crotch pain and no butt pain!  woo hoo! :)

The heat was turned up and I could tell that I was getting sunburned (despite putting SPF 70 on that morning, spraying before I got in the water, and spraying again between the swim and bike).  When I got to T2, I grabbed salt pills and sunscreen to shove in my pockets.  The first part of the run is described as "Mordor" (for you LOTR fans) and is a lava field.  I couldn't really run that part, so I took the opportunity to re-apply sunscreen and hydrate.  Once I got to the street, I started 4/1s.  But at some point, I asked myself what I was doing.  My left foot was hurting (as I have not been doing my PT) and my right foot had all this pain in the arch (which I didn't understand).  I thought about how I was here on vacation and I had absolutely nothing to prove to anyone or even to myself.  So I just stopped running and made a conscious decision to enjoy it.  After mile 4, the course runs through the Hilton Waikoloa Resort -- past lawn chairs, pools, on flagstone, a lagoon and then on to a lava path that is only 9" wide with a dip to the ocean below.  From there the path turns into coral and then on to sand.  So yes, I was definitely walking (even caught on camera)!

I finished with a smile and have no regrets about not "racing" that day or about not training the months beforehand.

Oh and about that pain in my right foot -- I must have cut it somewhere from the swim to the bike.  Thank goodness it was just a cut and not a real issue!  It should be back to normal in a few more days.