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Gulf Coast 70.3 Race Report: Not the Way I Wanted It To Go

Writer's picture: Swim Bike Run the PlanetSwim Bike Run the Planet

My mind was racing as we packed the car and headed towards Panama City Beach for me to race Gulf Coast 70.3. The last time I had been to this race the swim had been canceled. The weather looked promising for a swim to happen this year. I was excited. Even though I wasn't as fast or as light as I had hoped, I felt trained and ready.

On Friday morning, I went to the expo, picked up a few things, and returned in the afternoon to check in my bike.

After checking in my bike, and memorizing which rack in transition my bike was on, I walked to the swim start. I smiled remembering 2017 when I had coached myself, had no clue what I was doing, and was concerned about the swim because I hadn't done enough of it.


I walked out to the beach to look at the swim course. This time I wasn't concerned. It was a long swim. I knew I would be fine. I went back to our Air B&B and rested the remainder of the evening for the next day. I was so excited. I was going to complete a full 70.3 not one where the swim was canceled.

I woke up early, walked to the start, and set up everything in transition I would need for the bike and run.


The Swim:

I lined up at the shoot, waited my turn and we were off! The waves were huge. I felt like I was taking one step forward and two steps back. My mind started to panic thinking I wasn't going to make the cutoff. I took a deep breath and tried to calm my mind as I swam. "Let them decide that, not your thoughts." I reminded myself. After what seemed like an eternity I was at the buoy to make the turn. I decided to sneak a peak at my watch to see exactly how much trouble I was in. I swore it took me forty-five minutes to get out to the turn with the rough water. I was pleasantly surprised to see my watch read twenty-three minutes. I took a deep breath and reminded myself to "Just Keep Swimming". Yes, I heard Dory from Finding Nemo's voice in my head too. It was a quick swim across to the next buoy to turn back towards shore. Finally, a little speed as the waves started to push me towards shore. Unfortunately, it was short-lived. I was about 500 yards from shore. The waves seemed to get stronger and started pulling me out with them. I swam as hard as I could when the waves were coming in and tried to not lose too much ground when they were going out to sea. Finally, my hand felt sand, and I stood up to exit the swim. Fifty-eight minutes after I started. I breathed a sigh of relief as I made the cut-off. It was by far the hardest swim I had ever completed at open water swim practice or a race.


Bike:

After breathing a sigh of relief after the tough swim, I hopped on my bike, my favorite part of a triathlon. I pedaled hard after I mounted my bike. I made a turn and hit a huge headwind. I tried to keep my goal speed and pushed hard. Twenty miles of a headwind. Where oh where was the turnaround? Finally, I saw the turnaround.

"Oh my gosh!." I thought. "Finally, I will get a break from the wind."

I did for a bit but it was very short-lived. It was nowhere near a long enough break with a tailwind. My whole body was fatigued from a tough swim and a tough start to the first half of the bike. I arrived back on the road by the beach and began to not feel well. It took an effort to keep my bike straight. I felt nauseous. This was not good.

"Just a few more miles and you are off the bike." I told myself.

I felt incredibly sick. I just wanted to be in the A. C. I thought about handing my timing chip in transition, but I didn't want to just give up. I decided I would start the first lap of the run, focus on hydration and nutrition to see if I could bounce back. I racked my bike and headed towards the exit of transition. I tried to run over the pedestrian bridge and felt a wave of dizziness come over me. I grabbed the side of the pedestrian bridge to stabilize myself.

"Woah," I said out loud. I almost fell over. I walked until I reached an aid station. I took water, gel, and electrolytes. I walked for a few more minutes and started to run. I felt like I was going to collapse on the course every time I ran.

After completing the first lap, I knew my day was done. I didn't want to end up in an ambulance. My body was telling me to stop. I approached a race official and explained I needed to pull myself. I was asked if I needed any medical assistance and I said no. I was walked to another area to hand in my timing chip. Everyone was very encouraging and asked if I would come back and try again. I will, and one day this race will be my day.

After the race, I was positive. I told myself Ironman Florida was going to go much better and it will be even sweeter when I cross the finish line.


Thank you for reading. If you would like to subscribe, please do so on the homepage or email swimbikeruntheplanet@gmail.com

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