CRAMPS!!!!

Sunday I raced my first Triathlon of the season.  St. Louis, MO.  Olympic Distance.  Probably one of the best run races I've participated in.  The little inconveniences were attended to.  There were drones taping the entire race for spectators.  The weather was perfect and wetsuit legal.  The course flat with minor hills and a dead snake on the bike course. And it was well covered - there were people disqualified for cheating!!!  (They turned early on the swim.)

And the beer at the end, refreshing.  I love my new glass.  However, it couldn't save me from leg cramps. In all the years I have raced, I have never known the pain of cramping muscles like this.

They started in the swim.  I tried to kick harder during the last half of the swim.  Calf Cramps!

Okay, just relax, work it out.  Go to the bike.  Nope, thighs started to cramp and continued.  By the run, I felt it all down the back of my legs into the arches of my feet.  "just keep going, work it out..."  By the second mile, I focused on relaxing and continuing.  My first mile was over 11 minutes.  Somehow, I managed to average around 10 min/miles by the end.

As soon as I stepped across the finish line, turned in my chip and stepped aside, I felt it.  My legs locking up.  I went to the recovery/stretch/message tent.  My husband signed the form, and I just started to stretch.  (I was not looking forward to the hours of riding in a car before sleeping in my bed.)

Needless to say, this was my worst race.  Looking back, what did I do wrong?  Was is the yogurt and fruit topped with granola for breakfast?  Was it the fact I didn't just sit and drink water the day before?  Was it the driving for hours?  Lack of sleep?  or the extra weight that I'm carrying?  So many factors. 

But I can say it all started a couple of weeks earlier when I ran 6.2 miles before work, and then sat for 8 hours.  My first leg cramp was behind my right thigh.  It's still tight.  First mistake, not enough base training.  Along with my weight and poor life habits.  I have a sprint triathlon in just 2 more weeks.  Shorter distance, I should be able to focus on it.  I should be able to correct some of that base training.  And correct some eating habits, and lack of stretching throughout the day.

For now, I will remember the beer I earned from that race. I will savor the smell of Honeysuckle from the bike and run segments.  I will look at my husband who has promised to join me next year, and how he promises to start training as soon as we get back into hour house next month.  And I will train smarter in preparation for Chicago.