GCST helped Dr. Tasha Wallace compete in her first Distance Tri at Siesta Key
On July 23, 2011 I completed my first olympic distance triathlon in Siesta Key, Florida. Up until then I had only raced sprints. The idea to do an oly came to me after Melanie Bocock, a fellow triathlete, and I went out for a long ride. I had not been on my bike in 10 months, but I had a great time.
Simaltaneously, I had began my swim training with a group (after much encouragement from Ryan Shute, another fellow triathlete. So 3 days a week i set my alarm for 4:15am and headed to San Carlos Community pool.
I searched the internet for an olympic distance triathlon and made it my goal to do one before my 2011 tri season was over. I chose Siesta Key for its location...only 90 minutes from home. My race calendar was open in July. I dont think I considered the weather until weeks after I registered. But I was committed.
After several weeks of training I was able to establish time goal for each of the legs. I added it up and wrote the finish time on my chalk board: 2hours 53 minutes.
Donna Campbell encouraged me saying I would "love the distance". I believed I could do it. Really, I had no prescribed training plan. I just kept swimming 3 days a week, biking 3 days a week (with my longest ride @ 50 miles). Running here and there when I could fit it in. I had no time for two a days which meant training 7 days a week. I think I had 5 rest days since mid-april.
One or two weeks before race day the gravity of what I was about to do was settling in and I was getting nervous. Sprints take me anywhere from 65 to 75 minutes to complete with only a 400 m swim, a 12 mile bike and a 5K run. An oly is a 1500 m swim, a 25 mile bike and a 10K run and it was going to take me more that twice as long to complete and its was right smack dab in the middle of summer. Was 14 weeks of training enough? How would I feel biking 25 miles AFTER a one mile swim? What would I use for nutrition? How many peeps would pass me on the bike (not my strongest discipline). Would I survive the run in the 90 degree heat?
Melanie helped me conquer my fears saying I could make it game. Once I hit the beach I could chase down all the athletes who had passed me on the bike. One by one. I would come for them. Like in the terminator. I've got just one red eye. I would just keep coming and coming and coming...she nicknamed me the Tashinator.
Race day arrived. It was a beautiful morning on the beach. I organized my gear in transition, then warmed up with a 10 min swim. Several other of my friends were there: Yochi, Beth, Lisa,Maura, Marcus, Tom, Wes, Tracey, Nikita, John, Elsa, Jake, and Jacob. We wished each other good luck. I was ready.
The Swim
Goal Time: 36 minutes. Actual Time: 35:54
The horn sounded. I hit my garmin and sprinted to the water. There were only about 20 people or so in my wave. So after we made it out past the first buoy there was not much crowding. As we headed north for 750m, I remained calm and focused. About 10 minutes into the swim, my nose was burning from the salt water. I had to breaststroke a few times so i could get my bearings and look for the buoys ahead. I made it to the turnaround buoy. All was well but i could not the see the finish line anymore. Stay calm. Keep swimming. Swim long. Breathe. Kick. Look up. I took a second to check my watch.! I was right on schedule! I was so excited. Now I just want to get my feet on the ground, but I still had a ways to go. Could not see the end of the course and I was getting a headache from my goggles being on tight. I had a problem with leaking during the naples tri and I wasnt about to have it happen to me again so i made them extra tight. Like I said there was no crowding but there was always someone just a ahead or on my left or right. I got passed twice on the way back but I didnt care. I was getting thru the first leg of this race without any major issues. Once I could see the red triangle bouy I started kicking like a two year old having a temper tantrum. I wanted to get out of the water and into transition. My feet hit the sand and I headed to transition like a bat outta hell.
T1
Goal Time: 2 minutes. Actual Time: 2min 32 sec
It was a long run from the beach to transition just like in the naples tri but this was thru sugar sand the whole way. I love transition time. I get re-focused. Cap off, goggles off, helmet on. Once at my bike rack its Oakleys on. Helmet on. I took a moment to squeeze a honey stinger gel in my mouth followed by a half a larabar. Officials were calling out our numbers as we were leaving the bike out arch. Guess thats how they to accounted for all the athletes since there were no lifeguards on the swim course. I muffle "Fourteen!" (cuz that was my number) and mount my bike at the mount line. Thecond leg of my race had begun.
The Bike:
Goal Time: 1hr 25min. Actual Time: 1hr 22min
There were 2 loops of the bike course for athletes doing the oly, one loop for those doing the sprint. I was excited to be biking with other peeps so I could keep a good pace. My excitement quickly turned to panic when I realized that the bike course was along a two lane road with a bike lane the width of my pinky finger. It was open to traffic. There only were 3 points along the 12.4 mile course that had police directing traffic. Within minutes I witnessed a cyclist hit by a vehicle in front of a 7-11. I just kept counting my blessings. I didnt want a flat and I certainly didnt want a crash!
I was trying to catch a draft whenever I could. With so many bikes on the course the first loop was easy. But I was riding alone for most of the second loop. there was a head and I could feel it. I was staying hydrated with Nuun. I had another gel about mile 15. Then at mile 22 I remembered I had a livewire chew in my bag that Lisa Buohler gave me the night before. I chomped it down and chased it with Nuun. Livewires are full of caffeine and with almost 2 hrs of racing behind me I needed a boost.
As I was ending my bike route I spot Jacob Buohler with his camera. Thumbs up!
I make to the dismount line in 1:22. I was stoked!
T2
Goal time: 2 minutes Actual time: 50 seconds
I hopped off my bike, ran my it into transition, and racked it. Helmet off. Racing flats on. Grabed two cups of cold water at water stop and dumped them on my head.
The Run:
Goal Time: 48 minutes. Actual Time 54min
I head out to the beach for my 10 K and look at my watch. Cumulative time is 2hrs on the nose! I ve got 53 minutes to complete the run course and meet my time goal! So Im moooooooving. First 1/2 mile was at 8 min pace. The beach was open to the public the shore was lined with athletes. Some moving quick. Some moving slow. And some were quickly slowing down. Including myself. I hit the hard packed sand and look at my watch 8:30 pace. Ryan Shute was right. "Expect to run @ marathon pace" because of the heat. It wasnt hot. It was scorching! My heart rate shot up. I got goose bumps...dehydrated. I came to a water stop: Dumped 2 cups on my head and drank 2. I was moving along. Now I was seeing lots of ppl walking and I was hoping I get to finish this race before I get to that point. I was still getting goose bumps and knew I had to ease up a bit and get fluids in. just as i come up on the 1.5 mile turnaround I see a girl in my age group. she is wearing U of F tri gear. and she's walking. i decided to pass and think to myself "if she sees any weakness in me and picks it up, im doomed". as i pass she starts to run behind me. damn! i dont look back. and then i remember who i am! im the tashinator! go! go! go!
i come to beach water station again. 2 on the head and 2 in the hole...and i keep moving. the cold water feels great. but as i approach the 3 mile mark i suddenly feel like all the liquid in my tummy is not going to stay down.so i slow down a bit. i look at my watch... 9:30 pace. its 100 degrees out here. i just want to finish. i think iof Rebecca Lacusky on her run leg of her half ironman. she wrote about how she was puking and running. now i know how she felt. im dodging toddlers on the beach but at least im not puking.
I make it up the beach thru the sugar sand to the 3.1 mile turnaround. Awards for the Duathlon and Sprint Tri have all ready started. I hear the announcer say, "first place...John Blewis!" I throw a fist in the air for Johnhat a tease! Before I head back out to the beach I hit the water stop: 2 waters on my head, 1 down my back and 2 cups of Heed down the hatch. 3.1 miles left. come on baby! almost there!
i dont know how i got thru the next 3 miles. i was running 8:30 to 9 min pace. I wanted to vomit. I was so hot. I wanted to be bald! My head was pounding. I saw Elsa Petrick and grabbed her hand. I wanted to stay with her, but I had to get moving. I wanted to get this thing over with. i kept getting chills. how could i be so hot and still get goosebumps? i was looking over at the ocean and wanting so bad to just run in! shoes, clothes, everything! I came to the beach water stop again. Volunteers were holding two cups water at a time. Seriously? u each have 5 fingers u could hold at least 3 cups per hand! I said "come on guys have more liquids ready." i wanted them to dump the whole cooler on my head! i took in more water, more heed and my hammer gel.
i made to the turn around and was so happy to be heading home! 1.5 miles to go! At the 5 mile mark i get a burst of energy. The livewire that Lisa Buloer gave me waskicking in! yes! almost done baby. u can do it! keep going. just like this! Nikita gives me a shout out, "go, tasha!" Thanks baby I needed that. The 6 mile marker quickly approaching. im going to cruise on in. and as im coming off the beach this time i see another age grouper. what? omg...there is only 0.2 miles left if she sees me she may kick it in. okay tashinator. u got this! get right up behind her. and stay there. dont pass until ur are ready to committ. i am practically breathing down her neck. i realize its now or never and i come around her and take off. as the pathway from the beach curves i turn around. she is not even close. im 100 yds from the finish. Tracey Mathes cheers me on as I head to the finish shute. and then who i do i see? ANOTHER age grouper but she is going down too! the tashinator has made it this far and is not taking any prisoners. ive avoided puking my guts out and 3 toddlers. im not letting this chick get in the way! i pass her like michael shumaker in the world grand prix just as i turn to enter the shute! o man. i was glorified! and soooooo happy to be done! i stop my watch 2:54. awesome!
a volunteer hands me a cold bottle water and my finishers medal. a paramedic asks me if i need the medical tent. i say no. he's like are u sure. ur not dizzy or anything? im say." no thank you. im fine" i guzzle half the bottle of water and pour other half on my head and back. and i say "i ran smart" and toss the bottle in the trash. whatever the hell does i ran smart mean? running on the beach in 90 degree weather is far from smart. lol.
i pass thru medical tent and over to the results screen. within seconds my name lights up. second place! i throw my arms up and shout "yes!" i see beth plumley and i bend forward. im not puking. im crying. man that was tuff and i gave it my all. i quickly wiped away my tear of joy and pain and found the rest of the speedsters at the awards podium. we all placed! it was an amazing event and one i will not soon forget.
It all came together. The training. The preparation. and the Tashinator did her thang...passing 4 age groupers on the beach for a podium finish at her first oly!
I would like to thank Melanie Bocock and Ryan Shute and Donna Campbell for encouraging me to go the distance.
Thank u to Jacob Buohler for taking some great shots.
Thank you to all my Endurance Sistas, Du Tri It pals and Speedsters peeps! u guys are the best!
This race is dedicated to Mason Bocock. Thank you Mason for giving me the courage to ride 25 miles at 18.4 avg pace without drafting off ur mother. Sorry u had to get ur tonsils out. Hope ur feeling better.
A special thanks to my kids and hubby for allowing me to pursue my dreams in multisport. Love u lots and lots.
"I'll see u on the beach!"
