This morning I had the Tiny Texan Triathlon. It was just a simple sprint distance race. 1/2 mile swim 15 mile bike 3.1 mile run. I was very excited for this race for two reasons. 1) Its been over 2 months since I did my last triathlon, and I was definitely ready to get back at it. 2) I was looking at the results for my age group from last year, and I figured with a good showing from me and if things went right I might actually be able to finish in the top 3.
Race morning started out as any other. I got my gear loaded up and headed out to the race site. I was feeling pretty good and pretty anxious and I was definitely ready to try and put in a top 3 performance. I got my transition area set up and jammed out to my ipod. Finally it was time to make our way down to the water and get this party started.
The swim for the most part was uneventful. Just a regular open water swim. I felt like I swam decent, although was a little disappointed in my time once I hit shore. I did the 800m swim right at about 20 minutes. I was hoping to be able to do it in about 18, but I figured I could still make time up on the bike course. I made my way up to transition and grabbed my bike. It was definitely the fastest transition I had ever had, and things were setting up good.
The bike started off awesome. I got into my groove I worked the gears well on the hills and I had a great cadence going. I started picking people off one by one moving my way up through the pack. Some of these people had all the expensive gear, aero helmets, even Ironman tattoos, and I was passing them. I was on pace for my goal to place in my age group and I was feeling awesome. Then it happened....
There are two things every triathlete deals with at one point or another. Flat tires, and crashing on the bike. I have dealt with my share of flat tires before, but today was the day for me to experience my first crash. I came up to a corner towards the end of the bike, and I must have been pushing the pace a little too fast cause as soon as I started turning my bike came out from under me and down I went.
I landed on my elbow and my hip, and I landed hard. I collected myself and thought I might be able to salvage my race. I hadnt been passed by a single person the entire time so if I could get rolling on the bike again I still had a shot. I threw the chain back on my bike and jumped on, but from the first pedal I knew it wasnt going to happen. With every pedal pain shot from my hip down to my ankle. My whole left side was on fire. I couldn't get down into aero position because of the pain in my elbow and arm. I knew at the point my race was over.
I pulled off to side and sat down just to collect my breath and let some of the pain subside. I eventually got back on my bike and slowly rode the rest of the way back to the transition area. I took my timing chip off and handed it to a marshal telling them my race was over.
It was frustrating on many levels. For the first time I was seriously in a position to place in a race and I let it slip from me....literally. It is definitely nice knowing to even be in that position is an accomplishment, however it would have been nicer to actually cash in on it.
As far as my injuries they aren't bad at all. My elbow is scraped up some and my hip is still pretty swollen, but they are nothing that is going to shelf me for too long. In fact I am still planning on being in the pool in the morning. If anything my ego is hurt more than my body. Maybe hurt is the wrong word, but definitely deflated. Of course that is probably still because it just happened a few hours ago.
I am sure tomorrow I will wake up and still be sore, but at least look back and use it as motivation to keep pushing. I have several races over the next few months building into my half Ironman in November. I am not sure I will be in any position to place in any of the next few, but in the grand scheme of things placing isnt the goal, Ironman Texas is. Like my buddy Jarod told me, better the crash happened today then during a major race I had spent months training for.
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