Question: Is there room for sparkly head bands in triathlon?

Last Sunday morning around 2:30am I was blindly rustling through my closet looking for something to wear.  What does one put on to go volunteer at T1 in a half Ironman race? I rationalized workout clothes would be a comfortable option and would help me blend in.  As I stumbled through the bathroom I caught a glimpse of myself in the mirror.  Bright running shorts, a t-shirt, and my sparkly running headband I wore when I ran the Disney Princess half-marathon.  I pulled my headband off.  I shook my head.  Who wears glitter to one of the most tough athletic endurance events in the world?

Same girl who squats 150 in pearls.

Just in case you've been living under a rock or just think people who do crazy endurance sports are wackos and could care less, a triathlon is a race involving 3 separate disciplines: swimming, biking, and running.  As if attempting to do 3 sports efficiently isn't enough, there are varying levels of distance those endurance wackos train for:  

• Sprint distance: 250-750 meter swim, 12-15 mile bike ride, and 3.1 mile run.  
• Olympic distance is a 1,000ish meter swim, 20-25 mile bike ride, and 6.2 mile run.  
• Half-iron distance: 1.2 mile swim, 56 miles on the bike and 13.1 mile run at the end.  
• Iron distance: 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike ride, and 26.2 mile run at the end.  

Some folks will train for years to compete in an iron distance race, and it is
considered amazing simply to finish.  Almost all people I've met who have finished one, will not let you forget they did, which is understandable given the level of commitment it takes to follow through.  The most widely recognized iron distance races are the Official Ironman races held across the U.S. and internationally.  In an official Ironman race you have 24 hours to complete the distances and as you cross the finish line they announce your name followed by the words, "You're an Ironman." I think if I did not die before the end I would like that statement to continue with, "Here is an extra-large pizza topped with percoset and a bottle of wine.  Enjoy recovering for the next rest of your life."  Just saying.  The Ironman race series also hosts several half-iron distance races and Raleigh has been fortunate to host a 70.3 race for the past 3 years.

Husband and I rolled in to the lake visitor parking around 4:30am to get checked in and it was an absolutely gorgeous morning.  Cool, but not too cold, and a beautiful sunrise.  We were stationed at the first transition area where swimmers would come out and grab their gear for the bike portion of the event and then leave out on their way to downtown Raleigh for the run.  Our jobs included being available to answer any questions the athletes may have, help them get their bikes and gear bags situated, and load all leftover gear and the bike racks after everyone was out.  The team I worked with were some baseball parents from a local high school and apparently this was an annual event for them.  They were a hoot!!  Sadly, there was no real volunteer prep and not a single one of us had competed in an event like this before so we weren't much help to athletes with pre-race questions. "You can't leave your shoes on the ground? I didn't know that."  "I'm not sure whether you can have a sleeveless shirt or not.  Why don't you just go shirtless?" (Yes please) "I'm sorry I don't know if we have snacks for competitors but you can have my pack of cheese crackers if you want."  We did do a boss job of breaking down bike racks, loading gear bags, and eating peanut butter bagels.

The atmosphere pre-race was pretty calm until it was announced there would be no wet suits for the

swim.  The water was too warm and race officials did not want to deal with
people overheating during the swim.  Wet suits don't just protect people from cold water.  They also help make your body buoyant and many athletes do all of their open water swim training wearing one.  There was some nervous chattering and anxious looks especially among the "amateurs".  I can't say I blamed them.  I chose to work this transition selfishly to watch parts of the 1.2 mile swim.  The swim leg of the triathlon is the one area I feel incredibly weak in and a lot of it is purely mental.  You're out in water way over your head and can't see what's going on around you besides people beating the water inches from your face.  I watched the first few waves and moved over to the "bike out" to assist athletes as they mounted their bikes and cheer them on.  That was probably my favorite part of the morning.  The bike chute was tight and chaotic at times, several people dropped all their food and water off their bikes, some fell over trying to get clipped in, but the energy was high and the time passed very quickly.     

A few observations about hardcore triathletes and triathlon based on my 70.3 experience....

1.  Hardcore triathletes like shiny, expensive toys.  There are some basics necessities for a tri race.  A bike, running shoes, a tri suit or the various changes of clothes you would need, goggles, food, appropriate shoes.  I guess when you step up to do a big event you want the nicest, top of the line gear at your disposal.  We estimated on the low end $3-5 million dollars in bicycles alone before helmets, shoes, and GPS technologies, etc.  Everyone had wet suits and nice tri suits... not just stuff you'd pick up from Dick's Sporting goods... specialty items only sold online or at specialty tri stores.  Some folks were looking stylish with coordinating bike shoes, tri suits, and shades.  Ain't nobody got time for that.

 2.  Triathletes come in many ages, colors, shapes, and sizes.  Standing at the bike out I got to lay eyes on every person who was able to complete the swim and continue on to the second leg.  No, not everyone completes the swim, but most did.  A few years back, boo boo and I had a colorful conversation about our first triathlon experience and some people's unawareness of their body type and clothing selection.  I did see some people who I would advise to wear a size up in their spandex but let's be real spandex isn't flattering on most folks, myself included.  Thin, thick, short, tall, buff, and saggy.  I tried to really pay attention to people's calves where they are marked with their age.  I would say the average age of this race was somewhere in the 40's.  I only saw 5 women around my age (30).  I think this is important to point out because so many people think you have to have a certain "look" or only young people compete in races and that is definitely not the case.     

3.  Proper nutrition is key. I've ran several 5K races where I passed by fast food restaurants and doughnut shops and thought about just whipping in for a biscuit or pastry before finishing up.  I'm not running races to win prize money, I'm running for cheeseburgers people.  I fantasize if I were on a 56 mile bike ride through Wake Co I'd just whip into a restaurant or gas station and grab a bite to eat, buy some snacks, pee, and be back on my way quickly.  Not the case.  There is a race cutoff and people cannot just go workout for 8 hours solid and not eat food.  And not just any food.  Practicing what you are going to eat throughout the event is key during training.  Athletes have to figure out what they can eat and drink that will not make them cramp or tank in the middle of the race.  I saw one lady with 15 gu packs strapped to her bike.  Gu is like thick syrup and made up of nothing but carbs and electrolytes.  That does not equal nourishment in my mind but you do what you have to do.  I saw people shoving down peanut butter and jelly, tunafish packets, pickles, all kinds of crazy stuff...all in the name of finishing.    

4.  All triathletes are not hardcore gym heads with egos.  Some people are pretty competitive and hardcore but beneath all the spandex and fancy bikes or gadgets, they're just regular folks out doing something they enjoy for themselves or with friends.  Standing at the bike out I told all the riders coming by me I hoped they enjoyed their ride and out of 1,000's of people competing most people said, "thank you" or "thank you for being here" and smiled.  I was more shocked they could smile at me after a 1.2 mile swim than the appreciation they showed, but they were so gracious even if they were in a hurry.  People with expensive bikes who had trained for months fell off their bikes, people dropped water bottles, and lost track of bike chains but no one shouted or got angry if they were in the way.  They helped each other when they could (you don't fall off of your bike to pull up someone whose already on the ground) even though the clock was ticking.  Summary: We are human and we need each other competitive or not.

Triathlon intrigues me but I do not claim to be a triathlete.  I distinctly remember telling my mother I would never, ever do a triathlon.  I've since competed and volunteered at several races, and I got to say there is nothing quite like it.  Like so many other hobbies or activities in my life, when I first conceived competing in a triathlon I already imagined myself training and going for at least a half-iron distance.  I like challenge and I like goals.  But I can tell you since those early pre-triathlon days, the reality of training and the perceived level of athleticism and mental strength you have to have to complete a long distance endurance event has had me second guessing on that ambitious goal.  Volunteering at a race, whether it is a triathlon, 5K run, swim event, or whatever is a good step toward conquering those doubts of competing.  Volunteering at Raleigh 70.3 has me wondering if that's in my future in the next year or two.  Several folks tell me on the regular the the only way they'll run is if they're running (read driving) to town to grab a sausage biscuit from McDonald's.  Even if you have zero desire in ever competing in an event, volunteering at race events supports important causes, fosters community and healthy lifestyles.  If you don't want to get off the couch for any other reason, go eat and share peanut butter bagels with some pretty cool folks.  If you see a girl wearing a sparkly headband, throw your hand up and holler back.  

"Swim Out" at Jordan Lake Vista Point