Peterborough Triathlon Race Report from Shelley Ann

Check out this great race report from Shelley!

Thanks Team!

One short year ago, I wrote a goal on a piece of paper.  “In 2011, I will do my first Sprint Distance Triathlon.”  On Sunday, July 10, this dream was realized.

The first step to reaching that goal was to be invited to join the Won with One triathlon team. This group is made up of some amazing people.  Our manager Jan Ditchfield works tirelessly to make sure that we can participate in triathlons all over North America—not an easy feat as there are numerous logistical details, creating athlete-guide pairs and having to constantly search for funding sources and sponsorships.  Jan is a true miracle worker.  Our coach, Cathy Rober provides us with all kinds of practical ideas both on a team and an individual level.  A team of dedicated guides are the bridge that takes us from sitting on the sidelines to full participation.  There are presently thirteen athletes scattered all over Canada, each with an impressive story to tell.  Some were born with their visual impairment while for others this was acquired.  Some triathletes are in the elite category while others, like me, are in the developmental stream. 

As a ‘newbie’ I learned from many experienced triathletes—everyone was quick to share their advice—everything from the best way to get into a wetsuit to techniques for running and swimming with a tether.  You will never see a more positive, uplifting bunch than this crew—pity has no place on our team. 

The morning of our race dawned sunny and warm.  I was fortunate as I had my Dad and sister Colleen staying with me.  Both have run marathons and know what it takes physically and mentally to compete.  I was raised to believe that lack of sight did not equal lack of physical ability.

I fuelled up on a little fruit, egg sandwiches, an electrolyte drink, a small but necessary amount of caffeine and yes, water.  During a quiet moment I listened to a couple of songs on my iPod.  Natalie Merchant’s “Wonder” and That 1 Guy’s “Stone’s Throw” gave me the musical inspiration I needed.  I was feeling pretty good—I’d hydrated slowly the day before.  I took Cathy’s advice and ate a  dinner of fish, rice and veggies and then slept well .  The night before that, I’d foregone a chance to go to the Ottawa Bluesfest.   You have to make sacrifices. 

On race day, the hotel lobby looked like a bike shop.  Athletes, guides and others raced around, dealing with last-minute bike problems.  I caught up to my guide, Robyn Hardage—a phenomenal athlete who has as part of an impressive resume completed a Boston marathon and is no well on her way to an Ironman in Lake Placid . We were in high spirits as athletes and guides all kidded each other about the upcoming events.  Some of us would participate in the sprint distance while others were gunning for the half-iron. 

We walked to Beavermede park pretty much en masse; guides and athletes with big tandem bikes in tow.  My friend George Hajecek was guiding for the first time.  His athlete, Terry Gardner was an experienced pro.  We didn’t know it at the time, but they would come in first in our category.  Robyn and I had done the Try-a-tri together so I was feeling  very confident.  Another athlete from BC, Chris Zonruiter was as new as I was.  When we got to the park, music pumped out of the PA system along with constant announcements about Won With One.

For some strange reason, the transition area does something to my ability to organize myself.  I can’t seem to think strategically and need some help putting my gear in order and knowing what I have to do in any kind of a sequence—I attribute it to nerves as transition is a big part of this sport.  It will come.  I’m just glad that my guide is there to help me to get my act together.

It was time to tug on the wetsuits—still an ordeal for me.  Thankfully Robyn was able to help me. I look like I’m doing the hokey-pokey and of course this resulted in hoots of laughter from my teammates.  Before I knew it, a horn blared and it was time to get into Lake Beavermede.  As we started our 750-metre swim, I was so overjoyed to see my fellow teammates out there with me! We were part of the para wave and so were able to start five minutes sooner.  The tethered swim wasn’t nearly as scary as I thought it would be.  Robyn was able to keep me on course both physically and mentally—ever try swimming with someone who is both visually-impaired and has ADD?  I was scared of being kicked or pushed—the only thing that happened was that someone grabbed my leg in one of the turns, using me like a pole to help him/herself to negotiate that turn. 

The swim complete, we scampered out of the water like seals and ran to the transition area, trying to pull off the constrictive wetsuits along the way.  Lucky for me, Robyn was able to help me get out of mine—it was like getting a kid out of a snowsuit! 

Helmets, jerseys, shorts and glasses on, we mounted our trusty steeds and were headed for the roadway.  As we rode, we got and gave lots of shout-outs of encouragement to those  nearby.  Although I’d tied my shoes in double knots, a shoelace got caught in a pedal and we had to stop for an adjustment—that was close—lesson learned—ALWAYS TUCK IN YOUR LACES!!!  A kilometer or two later, a flying thing flew into my ear and bit me—I squashed the perpetrator and kept going.  For the first time ever, I made a turn on a tandem bike!  Robyn’s cues were excellent—“push off”  “Railroad track”  “Bump” “Change gears”  “Coast” and “Brake” were all cues that helped. “Power” was our word for me to pedal harder to climb a hill.  It’s times like these when you realize that this sport is all about one brain, two bodies.

We dismounted our bikes and got ready to run.  I decided to ‘dog it’ a little on the 5K, not sure how I would hold up at the end.  Those track workouts with Geordie McConnell and brick workouts with Tara Fairhead with the Ottawa Triathlon Club’s Triathlon Training Program really helped.  Short, quick steps got me there.  Robyn had to endure my expletives when we came to the last kilometer—I hate “corkscrew” endings—I like a nice, straight finish with a beeline to the finish line.  This was not how this course was laid out.  Just when we thought we were in the home stretch, the course took a few more turns and twists to give us a full 5K—a real psychological teaser.

At last the race was run.  I couldn’t believe that I had done my first sprint distance triathlon in under two hours!  I was officially a triathlete!!! 

Robyn’s partner Mike and my sister Colleen and Jan snapped all kind of pictures.  There were many high fives and sweaty hugs as my teammates and I all congratulated each other.  It turns out that three of us had placed in the paratriathlete stream in the sprint distance.

Being part of Won With One has helped to build my confidence in myself I’m doing things now that I never dreamed were possible.  As I approach my fiftieth birthday I know that there are a lot more things to look forward to.  Through this team I have grown fitter, faster, stronger and  have really come into my own.  It is said that if you are not living life on the edge, you are taking up too much space.  Now that I have one event under my (race) belt, I am looking forward to the next.