Smithfield Sprint Triathlon at 11 weeks

I competed in and finished my 4th triathlon yesterday and I did it at 11 weeks pregnant, okay 1 day shy of 11 weeks, close enough though.

I was really excited for this triathlon. I competed in it last year, and it was actually my first triathlon that I've ever done. I was excited to see how I would compare from last year. Yeah I knew going into the race not to push to hard and not to expect too much, I mean I'm almost 3 months pregnant, but I'm still competitive and I still thought I was able to beat my overall time from last year.

The course itself wasn't too difficult, a 300 yard pool swim, a 10 mile bike ride and a 5K run. Last year my official time was 1:13:45.

Swim: 6:21
T1: 1:35
Bike: 37:04
T2: 1:58
Run: 26:48

I hadn't trained any better this year, I actually haven't been in the pool in 2 weeks, I haven't ridden my bike outside, only a few bike trainer workouts, and although I ran a half marathon last Sunday I took the entire week off from running, or all exercise now that I think about it, but I still thought no big deal I can probably get a time under 1:10. I was overly confident. I usually only give myself goals I can meet, but I'm realizing my goals have to be altered now that I'm pregnant. Luckily my body is smarter than my brain, and my body won't allow me to push myself too hard.

Temperatures for the day started off in the low 40's. It was significantly cooler than last year and I was nervous about being too cold. I set up a jacket to put on before getting on my bike. I was excited to race, and thought I would be fine even though I didn't really train, and I thought I ate enough calories in the morning, but maybe I didn't.

Sean and I before the race trying to stay warm

I got into the pool at 11:06 am and felt pretty good in the pool. I ended up passing two people and I got passed by two other people. When I got out of the pool and jogged to my bike I thought I was going to be a lot colder but it didn't feel bad. I went to put my socks and bike shoes on and I struggled with my balance. I had to hold onto the bike rack in order not to fall over. I felt weak and was anxious to get on the bike so I could have some energy gel.

In line waiting to start the swim

Watching the swimmers, only a few more and it'll be my turn

Ready...Set...Go!

I got on the bike after running through the muddy transition area only to find that I was unable to clip into my bike. I tried for the first half of my ride and eventually gave up. I was using new pedals and knew it may be tricky to clip in but I hadn't accounted for the mud and I had to improvise and pedal with the small pedals and not being clipped in. The ride seemed to go fairly well I passed a few people and of course got passed by quite a few as well.

Getting ready to mount my bike

Trying to clip in...no luck

Attempting to ride without being clipped in

When I got off the bike I felt awful. I usually have no problem jogging to put my bike back, but I was unable to jog. I walked my bike back, racked it, changed into my running shoes, again having to hold onto the bike rack for balance. I grabbed a package of Cliff Shot Bloks and hoped it would make me feel better and left for my run.

Walking my bike back to the rack

Off to start the run

I ate all 6 bloks in the first half of the run. I think it helped to give me energy. I was unable to move any faster than a 10 min/mile pace. I felt sluggish, but didn't want to push it. I didn't wear my HR Monitor, and didn't know what zone I was in. I saw Sean as I was passing 1 mile, he was at about 2.10 miles, and that gave me a little more energy. I literally wanted to walk and just say "fuck it," but I kept it slow and I just wanted to finish this race. I knew at this point there was no chance I would have a faster race than last year, and I didn't care, I just wanted to be done. As I was coming up the last hill I had less than a quarter mile to go. I was doing this and I wish I could have told the world I was doing this 11 weeks pregnant but I couldn't. As I was coming up to the finish line Sean and my friends were there cheering for me. I have never felt so much emotion during a race. I wanted to cry, and not because I was in pain, because I wasn't in pain, but I just wanted to cry because I had accomplished what I set out to do.

Coming up to the finish

Yay, I'm done!

I finished with an official time of 1:18:43, about 5 minutes slower than last year, but you know what I FINISHED!

Swim: 6:25 (4 seconds slower than 2009)
T1: 1:52 (17 seconds slower than 2009)
Bike: 37:49 (45 seconds slower than 2009)
T2: 1:36 (22 seconds FASTER than 2009)
Run: 31:03 (4 minutes 15 seconds slower than 2009...my slowest 5K ever)

Sean met me at the finish line after I crossed and gave me a big hug and asked how I felt. I told him I felt like crap and how tough the race had been for me. This triathlon was 10 times harder than the half marathon I had done on Sunday. I'm not sure if this was because this was a "sprint" race and I had just gotten my heart rate up too high, or if I'm just progressing in my pregnancy and exercise is going to just get harder. I don't know the answer, but I do know that for my next triathlon, May 23, I will be 19 weeks pregnant. It won't be a secret any longer that I'm pregnant, and I will rock being pregnant. I'll definitely have to get a cool shirt made, and I won't worry if I have to walk, because if I feel like walking I will walk, or if I can't clip my shoes into my bike, I will not even try, I will use regular pedals and wear sneakers. It'll be a different race and I think there will be less pressure.

After my race my friend Suzy came up to me and congratulated me on a good race. I told her how weak I felt and how it didn't go well. She straight out asked if I was pregnant. We're still waiting until our first ultrasound to say anything, only 11 days away, so I just said "maybe." She knows we were trying so it was a safe answer, because really to her it probably means, I'm not sure yet, not oh yeah I'm 11 weeks pregnant. I'll be sure to tell her the truth very shortly. She was fine with my answer and actually said, how cool would that be if you just did a triathlon with a little Murphy inside of you. That made me smile, because I did in fact just do a triathlon with a little Murphy inside of me!

Suzy and I try to stay warm

The rest of the day went well. I made sure to eat a lot. At the race I had two pulled pork sandwiches, two large helpings of mac & cheese and a few chocolate chip cookies. Once we got home I took a nice warm shower and a hour and a half nap. I could have probably slept through the evening, but had told Sean to make sure I woke up. We met our friends out for dinner and a movie, and I had a buffalo chicken wrap with french fries. It was delicious, except I was bummed I couldn't enjoy my sandwich with blue cheese. Damn pregnancy, just kidding I don't mind giving up blue cheese for this.

After the movie we met a few other friends out for drinks at a local bar. I enjoyed 3+ glasses of water, while they asked, "you still can't drink beer?" I said, "one more week." I know it's bad to lie, but it's just a little white lie, and I got lucky by having Lent on my side. I won't see them this weekend anyway, since it's Easter weekend, so by the time I see them, it'll be after my ultrasound appointment, and I hope I can share my first baby photo with all of them.