St. Anthony’s Triathlon Race Report

After months of training, fundraising, anxiety (pulled hamstring), and anticipation (yay!  the weekend is here!), I joined 4000  other particpants in St. Petersburg, FL for the St. Anthony’s Triathlon.   Armed with my new soccer bag that holds all my tri gear and my new Kindle (for my 61st birthday), I flew south and   met up with the Richmond team at the Tampa airport for the ride to the Vinoy Hotel in St. Pete.   After the long Virginia winter, we were about to get our just reward in sunny Florida!  I was reunited with Bella bike, who had been trucked down the east coast with many others for this event.  We had only to cross the street from our hotel to enter the race expo where we picked up our packets and shopped for sunscreen, CO2 cartriges, and great items brought by a bevy of vendors for our retail therapy.

On Saturday we met early in the morning to walk to Spa Beach to check out the water and our wet suits in Tampa Bay.  It was a bit choppy…can’t say my fears were gone after the practice swim, especially since I’d been in open water just once all season.   We racked our bikes in the huge transition area and memorized where they were among thousands of others that would be there next morning.  That evening, all 362 TNT participants, friends, and families gathered for the inspiration dinner where we laughed, ate, visited,  and applauded the many accomplishments represented there….top fundraisers, first-time TNT participants, Triple crowners (those who have completed marathon, century ride, and triathlon), research, coaches and mentors, and most of all, survivors of blood cancers – many of whom were competing with us the next day!  Over and over again, we were thanked for making a difference.

Race Day!!!!!!  The day began at 4:40 AM as we rolled into our Team in Training jerseys and out the door with our gear, into the dark morning to find our bikes and arrange riding and running gear in careful order on a towel, hoping it would stay where we put it.   We spent an eternity waiting on the beach for our swim wave to be called.  We were one of the last.  I paced and pondered, watched the swimmers, got in the warm up area, and slowly began to believe I could swim Tampa Bay.  The water was calmer than the day before.  And then, everything stopped as the race director announced they would pause for 20 min. to reconfigure the buoys to make it safer out there.  My fears came rushing back…and once again I had to convince myself I could do this.  I have never before expended so much energy before ever stepping into the water! It was a three hour wait!

Finally, it was our turn and we we cheered and splashed our way into Tampa Bay for the swim.  Now to swim and keep sight of buoys, and  avoid being kicked by all the bodies flailing around you!  I gained confidence as I passed one, two, three, four buoys…and finally the yellow turn buoy was in sight.  Make a hard left and head toward “home” – but uh oh…the waves are so big it’s nearly impossible to see the buoys.   Never mind, I can see the huge Gatorade bottle that marked the swim finish.  I’ve never been so glad to grasp the hand of a volunteer waiting to help me up out of the waves and onto the steps.  She never let go of me until I’d gotten hold of the railing.

T1:  Start peeling off the wetsuit, run through the sand to your bike, and prepare to ride!  The sound of clicking bike shoes all around as we ran w/our bikes to the mounting line.  Off we went, still dripping wet, to ride the 40K  course (26 miles).  It was hard going in heavy wind, but at least the bike is my strength.  I kept pinching myself:  “I finished the swim!  I’m on my bike!”  as I began picking off young men and women in their 20′s and 30′s (age is marked on your calf).

T2:  Back in transition, it was time to rack the bike, lose the helmet and change from bike shoes to running shoes.  One shoe on, I couldn’t find the other…it had been knocked to the side under another bike.  Drat!   But soon I was on my feet running…for awhile anyway….until reality set in and I realized my legs were destined to feel like lead and the sun was beating down.  So – I knew I’d alternate running and walking for the 10K portion of the race.  We were snaked through a beautiful neighborhood where we could soak in the unique architecture and see Tampa Bay off to one side.  Encouraging words sailed through the air, even when folks looked like they were about to drop.  Quitting is not an option – and the far-off cheering kept me moving in the right direction.  Coach Steve high-fived as I passed toward the finish line, where my name was called out and where cold water and a finisher’s medal awaited me.

I finished St. Anthony’s in 3:31, wind and sunburned, sand scratched and famished.  I think this was the hardest event I’ve ever done.  When the going got tough, I thought about J.D., my team honoree, and what it takes to get through just one treatment for blood cancer.   I thought about Jane Thibault, who is currently cancer free and back to work.  I thought about Kaye Kriz and Mike Houston, Sarah Chandler and so many others who have lost their race with cancer.  THEY were cheering too, from a place without pain and suffering.

Thanks to all who have made contributions to the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Thanks to all who allow me to talk about them as they navigate treatment, remission, fears, and cures.  Because THEY are hopeful, I am hopeful.  If you’re reading this and haven’t yet made a contribution, there’s still time.  Just find the donate button and it’ll take you to my fundraising page.   This will likely be my only Team in Training event this year, so now is the time to help me to help others in the race for a cure.

I couldn’t wait to do Rambo early this morning, meeting friends at the stadium at VA Tech to run stairs.  It’s great to resume Spring in Virginia, to dig in the dirt, and to count my blessings.  The wet suit is drying on the line, wondering when I’ll put it on again.  For now, I’ll settle for the Lions Club ride along Wolf Creek this Saturday when I’m reunited with Bella bike.   Thanks for reading, and for going on this journey with me!!!  Jan