I am neurotic about being prepared and having my gear organized. Perhaps you remember the pictures of my gear for Lake Placid, all carefully laid out and prepared. Or, maybe, you remember me writing about the packing lists I check and re-check to keep track of all of my gear.
Apparently, I took a break from that approach for the Cannonman half-iron distance triathlon, which was held on August 22, 2010 at the Shawnee State Park, in Schellsburg, PA.
I assure you, this break from the uber-Type A approach to racing was not freely chosen. There were several forces at work, conspiring to make my day more—hmmm, shall we say eventful?
A portion of the bike course.
John and I had signed up for this race as a “fun” race, as a let’s shake out the post-IMLP blues race. Yet, it started to feel like it wouldn’t be much fun. The level of control I usually like to have over my surroundings started to unravel.
I started my usual angst over the downhill portions of the bike course about a week or so ago. In some sort of twisted logic, I think agonizing over the downhills is how I prepare for them. Based on the elevation profile, it didn’t seem like this race would have any long descents, like Lake Placid. But, there were two shorter descents that had a 6% grade average, just enough that trucks should use low gear. Ooooh, my not favorite. To add to my altitude angst, the weather was calling for 60% chance of thunderstorms. Of course it was. Why not? Some rain will really increase the “fun factor” to the level of root canal. My fun race was becoming a bit daunting. Well, no sense losing sleep over it: can’t control the weather, can I?
Well, let’s fast forward to race morning, shall we? After spending the night wide awake (so much for the “not losing sleep” cliche), listening to rain drops pummel our tent for several hours, I was not exactly keen to do the race. In fact, I had contemplated scratching. But, that would be quitting. Can’t do that. Better to race 30 mph down a winding hill in the pouring rain than quit.
» Read more: Losing control: Cannonman Half-Iron Triathlon Race Report
After months and months of preparation for my first Ironman in Lake Placid, it seems that I failed to prepare for one thing: the post-Ironman blues. I had read about feeling depressed or sad after completing endurance events, such as an Ironman, but I was in denial that such a state of mind would creep into my consciousness.
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