Pocomoke Triathlon

What is Pocomoke, you ask? Pocomoke, Maryland is just what it sounds like ... a little po-dunk town in Maryland. When I set my new year's resolutions this year, I decided that I wanted to do a triathlon ... so I set out to find one. Well, as races generally go, they were all on Sundays, so I did a lot of research before finding the Pocomoke Triathlon on June 2. I roped a bunch of friends into it with me and we all set out to "train." I, of course, had my issues with passing out and my back, and the training didn't go as well as I would have liked, but I was signed up and I wasn't backing out.

It all seemed like a much better idea in January when June 2 was a long ways away! As the time got closer, I questioned my decision making skills and wondered what in the world I had been thinking. Granted, it was just a sprint triathlon so it wasn't actually that big of a feat. The hardest part for me would be the swimming - since the only swimming I have done in the last 15 years (yikes!) has been purely recreational - no lap swimming. But I got a pass at the local rec center and set out to learn. The biking would be a challenge, but all the years of spin class would help out with that. And since I wasn't planning on using clip-in pedals, I didn't have to worry about falling off the bike. Running was my game. I am by NO means a runner, but I do run and though I am not fast, I can run and I know I can. So ... totally do-able. This sprint tri is a 1/2 mile swim, 14.2 mile bike, and 3.5 mile run. Not too bad, right?

Well the morning of the triathlon came. We got there and set up shop. Organized our equipment, put our time chips on our ankles, and prepared for the waves to start in the pond. The nasty pond. Seriously, I am sure there wasn't anything living in that pond to worry about because I do not think anything could have survived. It was unseasonably warm - 75 degrees - and since I was just at the Atlantic Ocean last week and knew how absolutely FREEZING it was there, I am a bit concerned about the temperature in this little man-made pond! They told us in years past that it was about 70, and lots of people wore wetsuits. Jenny and I rented wetsuits from a local shop here but after one swim in our pool decided that we would only wear them if it was absolutely necessary!

Of course I had to go to the bathroom after the pre-race meeting, so I ran in before we got in the pond. And just as my luck goes ... sorry to be so blunt ... but I had a friendly monthly visitor who decided that NOW was the time to come. Now? Seriously? Wow. Wasn't really expecting that one. But what can you do? Nothing. Just keep on going. So that's what I did. The swim wasn't actually that bad - other than the fact that I think I single-handedly swallowed half the pond! I felt like I was going to throw up when I got out ... but I didn't. I was just glad that I survived the swim - the rest was in the bag. Or was it??

I got out of the pond, threw on my bike shorts, socks, & shoes, strapped on my helmet, put in my ipod, grabbed my bike and I was off. 14.2 miles on a pretty well un-marked path. The first 2 miles were down a relatively major road but the rest were back country roads ... and when I say back country I mean that. The scenery pretty much consisted of chicken coops on one side of the road and corn fields on the other. Which made me feel right at home - it was like I had my mom one one side of me and my dad on the other, cheering me on! So I was pedaling along my merry way, and then felt my stomach start to hurt. I thought it was just because my shorts were tight around my waist, so I slid them down a little. Still hurt. Slid down a little more. Still hurt. About 20 or so minutes into the bike ride, about the time my ipod decided to stop working (which is really too bad for a number of reasons, especially since I had a great playlist put together for this race), my stomach pains were bad enough that I was in pain. I have a pretty high pain tolerance, but this was bad. But what could I do? I couldn't stop. So I kept going, in silence, watching all the hard-core people on their fancy road bikes passing me by while I biked my merry way to the end of the course.

I thought for sure that once I took off my biking shorts and put on my running shorts, I would be set - and running was my thing, so life would be great. I got a drink and started off for the running path. Next thing I know, my stomach is hurting so bad that I am doubled over in pain on the side of the trail wishing more than ever that I could just throw up and be done with it all. But that was not to happen. I am ashamed to admit that I walked most of run - I kept telling myself that it was mind over matter and I could just run a little while and then the pain would go away. Yeah that did not work. I tried it multiple times and each time ended the same. I was so bugged. All this time of training and working up to this and then I have to go and get cramps worse than I have had in years right DURING the race? Come on! I did run with my friend John on the way back and that was nice to have someone else there to talk to - though the pain never went away. It wasn't like it stopped after the race either - I slept with a heating pad on it last night and it still hurt when I woke up this morning!

I guess when I said that all I cared about for this triathlon was that I finished it, I was setting myself up for this! I did finish it and I am proud of that accomplishment - but now I feel like I need to do another one to prove to myself that I really can do one without it being a half-hearted effort! I just have to find another one that's not on Sunday. I will definitely make sure that a few things are in order first though ... no nasty pond water, I will get a road bike, and I will make sure that nothing is going to stop me from running like I know I can!! Despite all of that - which is pretty much par for the course in my life - I am glad that I did it. It was a fun experience and now I can say that I have done a triathlon (and I didn't even pass out). And, I successfully accomplished one of my new year's resolutions! Whew.