Gold Coast Triathlon...or Sort of.

One my goals for this year was to run another triathlon. I hadn't competed in a race since before the wedding, so I figured it was high time I tried another one. Alex and I did a 5K in March, but I really wanted to try another triathlon, so, way back in winter I signed myself up for the Gold Coast Triathlon in Long Island, mostly based on the fact that it was sprint distance, semi close to Brooklyn, and had a reasonable entry fee... (Triathlons can get expensive!!)


This Sunday was the big day, so I rented a car and Alex and I headed out to Long Island, Port Washington to be be specific, to give it a go. (Alex was a very good supporter, not complaining once about having to get up at 5am. :-) ) The weather has been TERRIBLE in New York as of late, so I was pretty worried that I was going to be racing in the rain. And, that ended up pretty much being the case, it was pouring as we drove out there, boo.

It only took us about 30 minutes to arrive at the race site, which looked like it would be a beautiful beach on Long Island Sound, had it not been for the crappy weather. As I walked my bike to the transition area, a guy on a golf cart came by letting us know that the swim portion of the race had been canceled, the beach was closed by order of the Department of Health. Apparently due to all the rain we've been having and all the run-off, the water had exceeded safe levels of bacteria. Gross. The race would now be a duathlon, meaning a run, bike, run, rather then swim, bike run.

Needless to say, this sent me into a nervous fit. What? No swim? The swimming part is kind of why I do the race in the first place. And the entire reason why I don't get my butt completely kicked in these races. I am actually a decently fast swimmer, the other legs, not so much. Now I would have to start with a run AND finish with one? This didn't sound like a good idea to me.

I honestly contemplated heading back home and curling back into bed. However, after a couple minutes of nervous deliberation, I decided, well, I was already here, had paid my fee, what's the worst that could happen? I decided to set my goal at finishing the race, and leave it at that.

At the end of the day I made it! Though I have to say, it was HARD. I don't think I'd ever do a duathlon again, but it was certainly a good exercise in mental toughness. The second time through the run, my legs have never quite felt so much like bricks of lead, but I kept on trucking, and made it to the finish line. Quite proud of myself, I might add. I was nowhere near the front of the pack, but finished in under two hours, and ran the whole way!


Coming in after the bike.

Attempting a sprint to the finish.

Proof I made it.

I did it!