Race Recap // TCSD Aquathlon #1

These are my favorite local summertime events.  The Tri Club of San Diego holds them once a month in May through October and it's a party on the beach every time!  It's a pretty simple idea, compliments of our dearly departed Jim McCann.  1km ocean swim and 5km run along the beach, to the pier and back twice.  Great workout with 150 or so of our closest friends, with of course a little competition thrown in the mix, which only helps it be an even BETTER workout!  Held in the evening, mid-week, perfect post-work activity to blow off a little, or a lot, of steam.  Not only is the location as beautiful as any in the world, the event is FREE, chip timed, and a post race raffle and dinner follows, fully loaded with pizza, pasta, salad, drinks, ice cream, cookies, and usually lots more.  It started off as a simple idea, and grew into a staple here for TCSD.  Visitors are welcome, so if you're ever coming to town, be sure to check the TCSD calendar and join us if you can!

MY RACE

It was great!  Always love getting through the start of the race without stepping on and getting stung by an unsuspecting stingray upon entering the water.  It's always a possiblity, but knock on wood I've never experienced it.

No waves to body surf in since the surf was small.  But none the less, the water was wonderful.  The transition to the run wasn't the easiest, still could use some fitness there.  My heartrate skyrocketed upon running out of the water to transition and was still screaming as I started the run.  Luckily I knew enough to know that it wouldn't feel that way forever, I just needed to relax into the pace I knew I could hold even if it seemed too hard at the moment.  That's not to say it ever got easy, it's still only a 5k run, pretty much a sprint if you're going to get the most out of the workout!  BUT my heartrate settled and I continued to feel more and more in control of my effort.  My self-talk during the race went something like this:

KEEP IT EASY UNTIL THE SECOND LOOP.  It's nice that there are loops.  Because what SEEMS easy in the beginning, is always, somehow, faster than it seems, and there's ALWAYS time to spend that energy at the end.

LIFT YOUR KNEES UP AND KEEP SHOULDERS RELAXED.  To do this, I need to engage my posture, staying tall, that gives me the most control through my hips and makes it much easier to keep picking up my knees to get the most out of my running stride!  If I'm running well, I'm generating my power through my hips (since my feet will strike directly under my center of gravity and glutes will engage) and I have an easy time keeping my upper body relaxed and going with the flow of my legs.

WHERE THE HECK IS THAT FINISH LINE!  Haha.  I definitely gave it all I had that evening.  It wasn't the fittest I've ever felt doing one of those.  Actually, far from it!  It's not that there's LESS pain when you're fitter, the pain is just different and somehow easier to handle! 

One of the best parts is always the awards.  True!  Always entertaining and unique and I've kept everyone because they're cool and full of good memories.  And they always remind me of Jim somehow.  All of them.  Still : )