Today I completed my first biathlon. I ran-swam-ran my way through my first multisport event. It was fun, challenging, and as always discom-bob-ulated.
Let me set the Wayback Machine for a second before I go on. Let’s go Wayback to – yesterday. I completed my first 16 miler since my last marathon (Gasparilla Marathon, March 09). It was tough. I just wasn’t feeling it yesterday. Not sure if I drank too much water and G2 or if I took my Gu’s too soon/late but by mile 12 I was just not right. By mile 14 I was cursing like a person with tourettes. When we finally got to 16 I felt nauseated and weak. But I did it. I am going to chalk it up to being extra humid and well, just one of those runs.
Fast forward to today.
I woke up early (again) and headed out to Clearwater Beach for the Clearwater Beach Summer Biathlon. It was mainly a kids event but some adults participated as well. Actually when the race director sent me the participant list of adults it was a lot of kids and about 28 adults. One adult was an 86 year old man! I am not sure if I saw him but it seemed like a wide age group, considering that they counted ages 16 and up as adults.
When I arrived, sans sister who wound up bailing, I started up a conversation with a woman in line who looked like she knew what she was doing. I clearly did not. As it turns out her name is Stacey, and she has done five tri’s. As we got up to the table to get our shirts they ran out. Stacey was not having this. She went and found who ever was in charge and demanded they get me a shirt for my first biathlon. Thanks Stacey! I also ran into an old friend named Julie, who was racing as well. I felt relieved to have some gals to hang with.
We got all marked up with our numbers and such and watched the kids race. Oh my gosh, I am not normally a gusher but these kids were so stinkin’ cute. They had little ones starting at the age of five racing! Check out this little dude bringing it home:
And check these two out at the transition:
Here’s me prior to the race:
As you can see in this photo behind me, it was getting dark out due to an incoming storm. The water was looking rough and I was nervous. Fortunately I didn’t get a case of the P.C.’s. What are those? I haven’t told you all that yet? The P.C.’s are what some of us get prior to racing due to nerves. Also known as the Poopy Cramps.
At 9 AM they started the adults. We were to run 2 miles, swim 1/3 of a mile, and then run 2 miles. The plan for me was to wear a sports bra under my swimsuit and then remove my shorts for the swim. Then for the second transition I would put them back on so I didn’t have to run in my swimsuit with my booty out there jiggling for all to see.
I ran the first two miles entirely too fast. I was sucking wind by the time I got to the first transition. I was painfully slow at removing my shoes and socks and putting on my goggles and cap. As I ran toward the water I realized I still had my shorts on. Doh! I had no choice but to throw them at some random spectator who looked at me like my head was on fire.
The swim wasn’t anywhere near as bad I thought. I pictured cootie bungalows all over the place and people scraping me to get by. We were pretty spread out and I actually caught a few people on the swim. The water was rough and every time I popped my head up to see where I was going I was too far to the right of the buoys and had to swim back in to get on the left of them. I apparently have a hard time swimming in a straight line. I enjoyed the swim the most and just took my time with it.
I entered the transition again and my shorts were no where to be found. Sadly, I realized that I had to run the last two miles without them, butt cheeks flapping in the wind. The final run was a bit better paced and I just tried to get through it.
When I finished, the preliminary results said I came in as the 4th woman, but I think I was probably the 5th woman. It also said I was 11th overall but again, that’s just preliminary. I’ll update this when I get the actual results.
From the looks of it, Julie, Stacey and everyone had a great race! They gave us these really cute Livestrong dog tags as our finishers medals. The kids loved em too.
This photo is just after the race. I had to crop it because I was still without shorts and am not quite ready for the blogosphere to have access to my thighs. Hehehe.
Me, Stacey, and Julie – Biathletes!
One more thing, my chip time was 41:05. I have no idea what the splits were but I’ll update if I get them. This was such a fun race, I look forward to more and who knows, maybe even a tri.
UPDATE: 5th woman out of 14. No split times. 11th overall out of 25.
Nice work. Beautiful beach!
oh my gosh those kids are cute! I told Rowen he only has 2 years till 5, he better start working on his transitions! I'm glad no cootie bungalows got ya, hahaha! Great job!!!
Great job! That is awesome. You're an athlete. Who cares if your butt cheeks are flapping? 🙂
Wow! 41 minutes for 4 miles AND a 1/3-mile swim? You rock!
Glad the PCs didn't hit; those are definitely not fun.
The more I read your blog, the more motivated I become to get back on track. Thanks!
Love the pics, congrats on today's event, you totally rocked it!
sounds like it was a great time… congratulations!! 🙂
Great job!! When to rock out your first biathlon.
Congratulations – such a very cute race! Hope you got your shorts back in the end 🙂
Outstanding job!?!
Awesome job! Fourth is a pretty big deal 🙂 Those kids are so cute…man, when I was that young you couldn't pay me to participate in anything like this!
Hahaha omg poopy cramps – definitely glad those didn't hit you…those are the worst!
That sounded like a blast!
Congrats, biathlete! What a cool event!
Yay! I told you you'd like it! Those kids are so adorable! I can't wait until I have little babies to push around in a running stroller and then throw into a wet-suit for races a few years down the road. 🙂
See? Last week didnt think you could do it now your in the top 5? Nice work. When is the road bike shopping going down?
SO proud of you B!!!! Great job! I'm so sad I wasn't there to snap a billion pics for you!!!! I think you've exceeded hardcore status with this one… 16 miles + Biathlon = Hardcore Badass!!!
Congrats! Do you think the dude is too young to get in on that? Maybe I should let him start walking first.
I'm coming over from SITS and feel out of breath just reading this post! Congratulations. I'm proud of you!
I'm guessing that spectator went home with a new pair of shorts? lol
Beth
Okay, cootie bungalows, poopy cramps, Gu's…my vocabulary is growing by leaps and bounds reading your blog. I am SO going to work those in at MSM somehow!
Great job! (Except for the losing your pants part. Nice girls are ALWAYS supposed to come home with their pants. Ahem.)
Great job! I hope you eventually found your shorts! LOL
Great job on the race!!! Sounds like you did awesome for your first time! The PC's! Now that was funny!!
What a great race report! Thanks for taking the time to write it! And way to go on the finish after having a meh 16 miler on Saturday. Heat and humidity can definitely put a damper on things.
Great job!! WooHoo!
Congrats on a successful biathlon! You did great!
The sky in that photo looks so daunting…! I hope you didn't completely lose your shorts 🙁
Hello Athletic Super Star…Congrats. This is really impressive. So happy for you!!
Great job beth, I knew you'd rock it!!
Excellent job!!
And nice pics 🙂
Congratulations on your first biathalon! My mom has a timing business so I grew up attending bi/triathlons (and other running events). I always wanted to be a triathelete, but never wanted to put in the actual effort to become one!
So kudos to you and thanks for stopping by my blog!
That's the best race report I've read in quite a while. Those kids in the transition are so cute! Congrats to you on a great race. It sounds like a really fun event. BTW, your swimsuit is very cute and you are not alone in your pre-race GI issues. Nice job!!
congrats!!!!
Great job on completing your first biathlon! Very nice pictures too. 🙂
Good job Beth! Sorry I had to jet out of there on Sunday, no more quarters 🙂 Hope to see you again for another "multisport" event!
Julie
AWESOME GIRL!!! You have really inspired me!! Honestly if I had been in town for this I would have done this with you- I had no idea this was happening in Clearwater…..the town I live in! How sad!!! You did great!! And I don't think you have to worry about the missing shorts either-you look wonderful!
welcome to multisport racing… I'm here for ya when you need bike advice. =;-)
congrats on your first multi? dual? whichever… 🙂 awesome job! sounds like a fun time and i'm glad you were safe from the PC's.
lol about your thighs. puh-lease girl, you are tiny!
Yea! You did it! LOL at the PCs!
Congratulations! If I had a choice of events, I would go run-bike-run. Way to tackle the swim though.