My first Splash'n Dash
Yes, this is Stefan and I am posting this blog entry with the ‘multisport’ tag. I am usually labeled as a roadie, sometimes maybe trackie, but the swim/bike/run thing is fairly new to me. The month of July along with it’s blank Texas Racing Calendar gives me the opportunity to try other things in athletics – so I decided to not only support the SE crew at the Splash’n Dash but also give it a shot. I’ve done two sprint triathlons before where I was able to pull off the win both times but mainly because of the bike leg. So a duathlon was definitely something new to me but the 750m swim along with the 3K run around Pure Austin’s Quarry Lake was actually well worth the time. Thanks to my fellow Sourcies Derick, Kelly, Brandon and SE athlete Adrian Barron I learned a few do’s and don’ts getting ready for it: a) have a swim cap, b) bring a set of goggles, c) have shoe’s w/ quick laces so I don’t waste time in transition, d) put some special lube into your shoes so you can slip-in quicker etc…Wow, I felt like learning a new sport but I guess that’s what triathletes think when they look at us roadies :-)
The swim was a mass start with 150 people and we just did one big 750m loop around the lake. My swim style is bad, I can’t freestyle for longer than 10 strokes because my arms get tired. Solution: breast stroke. Seems inefficient but it worked for me and I made it alive out of the big, warm “pool”. After probably the slowest transition time due to the fact that I ad to a) put socks on, b) tie my shoes and c) put some running shorts over the Speedos’ I was off running and 2minutes later Brandon Marsh passes me already being on his 2nd lap! Wow. But I kept going, round and round, leg for leg, breathing loud and passing and getting passed by fellow runners. I got told that my face looked horrible while running -well, probably because being a cyclist and my longest walk-related exercise was probably the last visit to the mall a few month ago.
Brandon, Kelly, and Derick took the Top 3 spots in that order while I trailed in in 10th place, posting the 6th best running time. I couldn’t complain. Now, Thursday, I am still sore and riding a bike is painful but it’s good. Soreness feels good. You feel you did something when you come home that night. Actually, you still feel it the morning after. Training which makes your muscles sore is something you’ll need to experience if you want to take it to the next level. Competing feels so much easier once you can go into that “pain cave” in training.
I might consider to swim more. Maybe I go out and run a bit, too. If the next Splash’n Dash won’t conflict with a race – I’ll be there. Everyone who hasn’t been out there should definitely check it out and stop by. For a 11 Dollar entry fee you get 30minutes of competion time, free pizza & hot dogs, adult beverages, beach volleyball and most importantly – lots of social time to connect with your fellow friends, training partners, coaches and competitors.