Throughout the day, I had to remind myself that I actually had a race that night. Normally, I get bouts of pre-race nerves/anticipation/anxiety. But I had none of that. There was no constant checking of the weather for storms, temps or wind. I didn't even check to see what the water temp was. I don't know where my mind was, but it wasn't on this race.
I finally got amped as I got the beach. The parking lot even had spaces open and transition looked a bit empty. Gone were a lot of the top group, including local speedsters, Will Smith (PRO) and Mark Harms (ELITE).
I got a good run warm-up in and the legs felt good, despite little to no running. I decided to go with the wetsuit again (just like everyone else) and didn't get that great of a swim warm-up in because halfway through, I decided to tighten my goggles and the strap snapped. Luckily, one of the life guards, Clayton Greissmeyer (of race sponsor Greissmeyer Law) let me borrow his Aquaspheres. The straps were long and hung loose. I felt like Mickey Mouse's dog, Pluto.
Since Will and Mark were gone, there was talk about who was left to draft off of. Rumor had it that there was one guy from out of town. I marked him at the start and lined up. After some announcements ($15 gift card primes to Quaker Steak and Lube to the first and last swimmer for each age group!) and the sound of the horn, I ran in and took one and one-half dolphin dives. I couldn't finish the second because of the deep water due to the rainy summer. Unlike last race, I'm untouched at the start. (Must be the goggle straps slapping everyone.) I breathe quickly to both sides to see who's with me. No one. I do it again to see who's there. Again, no one. Where's the guy I marked? It's just me and the lead kayak. I focus on it and feel light touches on my feet early on. One final look left and then right to see who's with me. Still, no one. Shit.
The waves grew bigger the further we got from shore and they were smacking me around. I played with my stroke a bit and found that the longer I kept it, the smoother I felt. When not breathing, keeping my head up and looking forward also kept me in a straight line. Smooth and strong I gracelessly rounded the first buoy and look to see who was with me. Still no one.
Now I'm cross-ways with the waves and keeping on course grew more difficult. I'm tiring but there's no sign of anyone around me to draft. By the time I reach the final turn buoy, I say, "Forget it. I'm getting the prime. I need the gift card to pay for my food at my fantasy football draft." I bury my head and drive to the beach. With a goal in mind and effort raised, my stroke falters. It gets short, my head drops and I veer of course severely as I near the beach. (You can just imagine what my Pluto ears were doing.) But, I emerge from the water first, run to the timing mat, and then walk through transition and sit down.
I take off the wetsuit. put on my socks and shoes, grab my hat and Garmin, and watch ten people take off in front of me on the run. That swim put myself in a deep hole, and the run hurt. An 8:20 on each of my first two miles with a heart rate nearly maxed out meant that lots of people passed me. But I was the one with the $15 gift card. (Beat that suckas.) I stayed as strong as I could to the finish line, trying to maintain form. I crossed and got my worst Aquathon time ever, nearly 40 seconds slower than my hydration/nutrition debacle in race #2 and no where near my promising start to the 2010 Aquathon series. The swim felt long, but was really slow. And that's probably my fault. The waves and lack of anyone to draft off really slowed things down.
The resent run splits perplex me. But, I think I discovered why they've grown slower. Hint: it's not due to a lack of running. It's because I haven't been swimming! I haven't been in the water since mid June. And without any swim fitness, I put myself in a big hole wasting a lot of energy thinking I can still swim fast(ish) and that makes a relatively inexperienced runner (me) that much slower. So, can I get some swim fitness in over the next two weeks and close out the series on a high note? We'll see. But at least I'll have $15 worth of free food at my fantasy football draft.