How I started my Tri: I started my triathlon journey about more than a year ago, and did my first sprint triathlon race with YWCA Minneapolis. It was a great race, and a once in a lifetime experience (Why I Tri + Race Thoughts: 2017 YWCA Women's Tri)! A lot of life events happened in early 2018, including the sudden passing of my mom, moving to a new state, starting a new job etc. Considering the life stress, I was hesitant to commit on a race again, but since I have invested in my triathlon gear last year .... I really wanted to do it (use them) again 😁.
常常在想，支撐我走過各種外在壓力，內心煎熬的，除了家人的愛和支持以外，各種運動挑戰和訓練，是我內在力量的大大來源之一。於是乎，在一團混亂下，決定投入八月中在奧勒岡州的第一場短程三項競賽。
How I trained: I don't plan to share about my training in this post, as it was not very well-structured due to work and life stress. My mindset while preparing for the race was to cover the basics - be able to finish the race: be able to swim 800 m without fear (didn't swim for more than 6 months) and have a smooth transition.
這次因為生活的改變，工作的壓力，訓練架構不是很完整。整體心態就是：要安全完賽。我感到最不安的是800公尺的開放水域游泳。畢竟在報名時，我已經有大於半年沒游泳，而新城市的泳池和開放水域我仍在尋找中。
What were new in this race/preparation: (1) Portland vs Minneapolis; (2) I switched to clipless bike shoes three weeks prior to the race (one move I don't regret trying - not a good strategy in terms of speed though); (3) longer swim distance (800 m vs 457 m), shorter bike distance (12 mile vs 15.5 mile)
這次比賽和去年在明尼亞波里斯的主要差別有三個：(1) 城市的不同：明尼亞波里斯附近就有適合練開放水域游泳的乾淨湖水（還有救生員），明尼亞波里斯城內和周圍有綿延好多英里的腳踏車專用道 (2) 比賽三週前毅然決然頭也不回地換上腳踏車鞋 (3) 這次的游泳距離長了兩倍，對於游泳不快的我，是很大的挑戰。腳踏車距離則短個快五公里。
What I learned and the true stories behind the race:
(1) Spoiled Minnesotan en route to become an Oregonian
I couldn't agree more with our the ancient wisdom: it is easy to go from frugality to extravagant, but difficult to go from extravagance to frugality. This is exactly how I feel when biking (or trying to find a bike route) in the Portland area compared to the great old time (very lovely and lovingly) biking in the Twin Cities, Minnesota. In Minnesota, designated and well-maintained bike trails are easily accessible, and they typically stretch miles and miles easily without being disturbed by traffic intermittently. There are lakes literally everywhere, and it's not at all difficult to find a swimmable lake even in the city!! It is truly a luxury for triathletes in the summer in Minnesota! On the contrary, it was quite an effort for me to finally find a place to practice open water swim, but unfortunately, I got "attacked" by a white dog from behind in the water on my second and last open water swim before the race....
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| Swim exit |
可惜，故事還沒有到此結束。
在我好不容易找到可以練習開放水域游泳的河流之後，才發現這公園有好多人帶著狗狗來河水中玩水。若彼此不相干就還好，彼此的道路相交流就可能會崩潰。話說，在我興高采烈地進行第二週的訓練，往前游泳時（開始游泳之前已看清楚前方沒有狗和狗主人），突然有一種動物（大白狗！！！）爬到了正在自由式的我的背上。一直抓一直抓一直抓，沒有要下來的意思。😡😣大概等了有十秒之後，我爬起來大叫HELP...狗狗此時才離去。他的主人從頭到尾沒現身....。我雖然安全無事，但我的防寒衣被刮出痕跡（很在意😂），然後心靈被嚇傻（真的）。於是和朋友立即中止訓練，我按原定計劃跑步找老公去。然後，開跑之後各種訓練中帶來的挫折和內心壓力一湧而出，在樹林中的跑道崩潰大哭很久很久很久（很想找媽媽）。😥😥😥😥😭😭😭😭😭感謝老公後來陪跑四英里。
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| Practiced transition near home, and earned a fall.. |
(2) Enjoy the process, don't be bugged down by particular numbers
During the bike and run, I started to feel disappointed by myself as (a) I wasn't able to ride as fast as I expected (17.2 mph vs the goal 18 mph above) and (b) I felt that I was about to get a cramp right after I started running, which hindered me to run faster. Though I missed my "challenging challenging" goal time of 1 h 28 min, I did hit my "challenging goal" time: 1 h 30 min. In addition, I did execute well all the technical-based goals during the race, including transitions, clip/unclip during turns and getting on and off the bike. Nevertheless, I still felt disappointed about my performance right after the race.
That feeling was so strong that I felt somewhat ashamed of myself for no rational reason. I tried to remind myself of some race thoughts shared by Olympic Gold Medalist in triathlon, Gwen Jorgensen, after a race (1) she would allow herself 24h to feel the disappointment and then move on, (2) she would acknowledge herself for achieving technical goals, and (3) she thinks that the result of a race, whether satisfying or not, it doesn't come easy and it's a learning opportunity.
Although my speed performance fell short of my expectation, it turned out that, based on my Garmin Forerunner 35, I exhibited my highest VO2 Max so far during the race. This indicates two things (1) I did my best, and (2) my physical strength did improve!! Since my original motivation and ultimate goal for my training and race is to be strong and healthy, there is really no need to be bugged down by particular numbers.
這次游泳速度比自我設定的目標還快，但是這一游，好像幾乎把我的力氣用盡了（心跳飆升）。後來的腳踏車和跑步都沒有原本設定的目標快，即便最後總成績有達到自己設定的第二階段目標。雖然已知前幾天因工作值班沒睡好，頭痛＋喉嚨痛，但是內心還是很任性的覺得自己表現不好。這樣的自責其實不太健康，也扭曲了自己原本要訓練挑戰的原意。
2016三鐵奧運金牌運動員Gwen曾分享過，在每個比賽之後，(1)她會給自己一天的時間感受各種情緒，一天之後就是『繼續努力』，(2) 不管比賽成績如何，她會肯定自己完成技術成面的目標，(3) 不管比賽成績如何，好與壞，都得來不易，把每個機會都當作是學習機會。
即使我對我的比賽時間的『數字』感到失望，根據Garmin手錶紀錄，我的體能其實都有持續在進步，而且VO2 Max (最大攜氧量）還破新高...。真的沒必要太執著在單一比賽的數字，保持學習的心，享受每個訓練的過程！
(3) Be grateful for what you have - don't take things for granted
I then reflected on my process leading up to the race. I was keen on switching to clipless bike shoes 3 weeks before the race, and I worked hard to get accustomed to the clip/unclip process. However, I got two big bike falls outdoor on the hard floor while practicing, earning bruises on my hip and knee and blood wounds on my knee that last for weeks. I almost forgot how lucky I was to carry on with my training and finish the race in one piece after the falls. I should not take this for granted. Thank God and the earth for giving me the opportunity to challenge myself and experience the beauty of nature and others.
這次的訓練，我還大大體悟到要珍惜和感恩，很多東西的發生都不是偶然，也得來不易。想想在換成腳踏車鞋後，有兩次從腳踏車上重摔下來（國小不知道幾年級之後第一次摔車）。膝蓋流血又瘀青，屁股也瘀青，走路還會痛.....。當時忍痛沒哭，繼續騎，因為換鞋是我的決定，但我當下壓根兒沒認真想過，我還能繼續蹦蹦跳跳，是多麽的珍貴。相較於完賽後立馬的失望感，其實，我又何必如此在意成績呢？能這樣挑戰自己享受過程已經是很幸福的禮物了！
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| Just started biking, feeling good... |
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