Sunday - May 19, 2013
Open Water Group Swim
This was a big day for me, my first lake swim in the new wetsuit. Everyone met at Caesar Creek near Wilmington, exit 45 up I-71. It's near the Renaissance Festival site, which I didn't realize. As I approached the CC beach area, I got very nervous. Open, deep, dark water terrifies me. Thank you Steven Spielberg for your 1975 thriller 'Jaws'!
Seven Cincy Express (one of my triathlon clubs) members were there, as we all geared up in our wetsuits. I wore my bike bib shorts and triathlon jersey under my sleeveless wetsuit, to simulate race day as much as possible. I'm not going to lie, as I've said before, I feel like Batman in the wetsuit. Something about it is just purely bad ass. Triathlons are pretty bad ass, and so it Batman.
There was one other virgin lake swimmer there, but the other 5 members were great with tips and tricks as we walked to the beach (leaving our bikes locked up on our cars). At the beach, it was early so there were not other people except one guy in a full sleeve wetsuit doing laps. The beach at CC is about 400 yards long and about 50 yards out into the water they have swim buoys to keep the boats away from us. About halfway to the buoys is shoulder deep (I'm 6'2"), and the 7 of us started swimming.
This is where/when my semi-panic turned into full panic. I've swam more since November than I have my entire life. I was just never around anything more than a 4 foot above ground pool as a kid. The clouds were overcast, so the water was cold and dark. Terrifying, really. But since I could touch the bottom at any time, it helped a little. Now, when you swim, you exhale slow and steady when your head is in the water. I started off and was so nervous/scared that I couldn't exhale smoothly AT ALL. This causes me to sort of hyperventilate and only swim about 10 yards before I have to gather my breath. When you can breath right, like I normally do in a pool, you can swim all day. Here, I couldn't breath. So much so that one of the CE guys checked on me twice. He said to go to shallower water to make everyone feel like I was safer. Hah ha. He actually said that and I had no problem. I didn't care about getting in a good swim workout. Today was about trying the wetsuit and exposing myself to the lake. For anyone afraid of water, like me, I would look over and see the beach about 40 yards to my left and when I looked to the right I just saw this HUGE expanse of water. Like the Loch Ness monster was going to jump up or something. My first lap down the beach was the slowest I've ever swam (since November) and every branch I touched with my foot or hand instantly turned into a great white shark or snapping turtle (those are mean!). I was a mess.
My lap back was a hair better, as the CE guys were all lapping me big time. After the 2nd lap we talked for a second and when they found out I started swimming 7 months ago they said, "Well, no wonder!" I then said, "But I'm good in the pool." They understood, as we've all been there, and said that after a few trips to the lake it'll be no big deal. That's where I want to get. I want to get to the point where I can swim in the lake or ocean like I do in the pool. I'm a very decent pool swimmer, so I look forward to being able to do that where it counts. We went for another lap down and back and I did much better. My breathing was better and I swam somewhat non-stop, maybe stopping every 50 yards or so, instead of 10. Once I got going, two things jumped out at me. One, it's hard to swim in a straight line when you're not in a pool. Two, wetsuits keep you warm and they really do make you float. They are awesome! Batman would be proud.
30 Mile Group Bike Ride
After that we walked back and changed for the 30 mile bike ride around CC and the LMT/Fort Ancient route. The LMT (Little Miami Triathlon) is June 2nd, so I was excited to ride part of it. Seven of us here, and all but 2 (me included) had aero bars on their bike. Aero bars are the bars that you see triathletes or time trial Tour de France guys riding when they lean on their forearms to become more aerodynamic. They make about a 1-2 mph difference for me over riding the bike regular (on the hoods). Actually, I think 4 of us had high end triathlon specific carbon fiber bikes. Very nice. One guy had Zipp wheels, which are amazing. This is a serious group. No Huffy or Schwinn bikes here.
This was also the first chance I would get to use my new wheels, Fulcrum Racing 7. They're made for cyclocross, which is gaining in popularity and very hard on equipment, so they should easily hold up for what I'm doing - normal road riding. Though, they might be a little heavy. Also, the new seat (ISM Adamo Century) worked well and I had no issues at all. I also love my Pearl Izumi Quest Bib Short. Through Promotive.com I got them for 40% off, about $42. Great deal and I will never buy another non-bib short again. The shoulder straps make you look like a wrestler, but my bike shirt hides them and they hold up my shorts perfectly. I wear XXL and there's not shoulder strain, as I've heard people say the straps dig into their shoulders. Mine are great and the fit is perfect. I want another pair!
We set off and I stayed near the back of the group, since I've fallen apart on group rides. But I held on fine. We went along, 2x2x2x1, on country roads with little to no traffic all day. I would talk to whom ever I was near. One guy training for Ironman Wisconsin (full distance Iron race), who also ran the Tough Mudder I did recently. Another guy just starting out. Another guy who has done a bunch of Olympic distance stuff. Great guys, all doing what I'm doing and loving triathlon. There was only one female today, who I've ridden with before on my first CE ride, and she actually was the 2nd overall female winner (1st in her age group) at a triathlon a couple weeks ago. Since she was the only person here I've met before, we caught up. She's also married with kids, so I think I can relate more to her than anyone. Some of these guys are single, without kids. If I was into triathlon, single, and didn't have kids, I'd have a couple $5,000 bikes and train 2-3 hours every day. I would be make of steel and have no body fat at all. I would chew glass for breakfast and be a complete animal, so I get these guys. They're into it and they can afford the time to train a lot, and they don't have a 529 college savings plan to worry about funding. I get it. Anyway, I talked to all but one or two guys over the course of the ride. We rode for 30.6 miles in 1:46:56, avg speed of 17.2mph, which is pretty easy even after swimming. My granny gear up front wasn't working right, so I had to work hard on some hill climbs, but otherwise it was a great, confidence inspiring bike ride.
After the ride, one guy took off for a run and 3 guys went out for a 2nd 30 mile loop. I felt fine, but told the family I'd be home at a decent hour and left. I was happy with the ride and thinking that Leah and I need to hit the lake a few times before we do a triathlon with open water - like the half Ironman races I want to do.
Here is the 30 mile bike ride Strava data:
Bib short photo:
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