Conquering the Urban tri: The Oakland triathlon experience
Doing a triathlon in a proper urban area comes with its share of challenges. Yet there is a certain rustic charm about the place that draws participants year after year. Probably that’s the reason why Oakland triathlon festival is one of the most popular urban triathlons in the west coast.
Doing the Oakland triathlon last year without previewing the course, helped me resurrect my confidence levels. To an extent where I dared to go attempt the Ironman 70.3 Santa Cruz, 3 weeks later. So, this year when I was asked to be one of the event ambassadors, I was happy to help spread the word.
Preview:Attending the swim clinic 2 weeks before the event helped me gain better clarity of the course including the transition. Sharon Barclay who was heading the clinic explained the nuances. Right from the swim start to exit, the really long swim to bike transition, the bike and the run course, I had a fair idea of what to expect and incorporate this year.
Packet pick up: I had picked up my packet from Sports Berkeley on Friday evening itself. It gave me an opportunity to rest well the entire Saturday. Along with my bib number, purple swim cap, timing chip, I collected my tee shirt, flask provided by oollee water-one of the sponsors and a bottle.
Packing: Unlike running, preparing for a triathlon event is like packing for a weekend getaway. On Saturday morning, I prepared a checklist of what I was going to need on race day.
Swim
Towel
Trisuit
Wetsuit
Cap
Goggles-2 pairs (just in case the strap of one pair breaks)
Body glide
Ear plugs
A big Plastic cover (to dump my wetsuit post the swim)
Old pair of shoes to be kept near the swim exit.
Bike
Helmet
Gloves
Glasses
Shoes
Gatorade bottles to be placed on the bike
A small tool kit containing co2 cartridges and spare tube
A jacket in case it got a little windy
Fuel belt containing gu gels and Honey Stinger gels-one of the sponsors.
Run
Shoes
Race belt
Bottle of Gatorade
Cap
Other stuff:
Garmin watch
A positive attitude
Checking off these items one by one, I was all set by Saturday noon and spent rest of the day thinking about the beer sponsored by Lagunitas brewing company post the race.
Race morning:I was up at 4 am and was eager to get to transition at least by 5:30-5:45 am. The race was scheduled at 6:50 am. That way I’d have enough time to set up my stuff before I take that long walk to the swim start for some warm up laps. For some reason, the GPS decided to act a little weird causing my hubby to take a wrong turn. Panic began to set in. Not a good sign on race day morning. Finally, Amit managed to get back on track and dropped me at the right place on Webster street. It was 5:55 am.
Like the rabbit in Alice in wonderland, I muttered “I am late I am late,” wheeling my bike and rushing towards transition. “Olympic, I am doing the Olympic,” I said to one of the volunteers who gestured towards the stands. I rushed and managed to secure a spot, which was a mission accomplished as it was first come first served basis. Sort of like a musical chair round.
I took a deep breath to calm myself before I set my things on the towel. Setting up in the order of the swim, bike and run, I began to apply body glide on my neck, hands and legs and began putting on my wetsuit. I noticed an old man and a couple of women next to me on the rack. They smiled at me and I started a conversation which helped me ease my nerves. I call them temporary rack buddies-the people whom you share a rack with during a triathlon event. Most of them are on the same boat as you on race day with jitters.
It was at that moment when I realized that my team Asha had a separate rack. I slapped the palm on my forehead at my stupidity. In my panic state and hurry, I had blindly rushed into transition without checking for team spots. I looked around seeing if I could see anyone. I spotted Amit and my daughter standing outside the transition area. “Coach Char just went by,” Amit said. “Where, where,” I asked scanning the crowd. I couldn’t see him anywhere. It was 6:15 am already. I said goodbye and rushed towards the swim exit to place my shoes.
My heart was beating so loudly that it felt as though a rock band was playing a concert. After placing my shoes near the swim exit, I ran barefoot towards the swim start. Participants were making their way towards the start line as well. Eager to get a 10-minute warm up in the water, I ran until I spotted a bag that read Team Asha. It belonged to Neha.
I was so glad to see Neha and Sumit. Seeing my stressed-out face, they immediately asked if I was ok. I talked about how we almost lost our way this morning and the fear of reaching late. They asked me to relax and calm down. Walking with them helped me ease my nervous bouts. We soon reached the swim start where I spotted rest of the cohort-Martin, Adarsha, Saakshi. The buoys were being put up. We then headed towards the water to warm up. I gulped a gu gel and muttered a silent prayer before entering the Oakland estuary.
The water was warm. After swimming a few strokes up and down, I felt better. Since it was a deep water start, I could continue being in the water. A sea of purple, green and orange caps made the otherwise plain estuary look rather pretty that morning. The sun was beginning to come out so visibility wouldn’t be an issue.
Swim: It was slated to be the fastest swim as the course was with the current. I started at the back-a strategy that had worked for me the previous week at the Tri Santa Cruz event. As Coach Shashi emphasized at Donner Lake, I focused on finding my rhythm and getting my breathing right. I wasn’t exactly Michael Phelps but I enjoyed my swim thoroughly. A big change from last year where I was waddling like a duck. I crossed the buoys and after that it was a straight swim. I swam close to the shore until I spotted the buoy from where I had to take a right turn towards the exit.
It was a challenging swim exit where we had to be hauled out of water. Like a seal, I splashed and got up on the raft. I glanced at my Garmin which read 38 minutes. People were gathered out there cheering for all the participants. I spotted Deeepak, Surekha, Coaches Sashi and Sumit and waved to them. Slipping on my shoes, I ran towards transition. We had to take a flight of stairs for 4 levels, cross the railways tracks and climb down the 4 levels again. My lungs felt as though they were on fire and my legs were feeling wobbly. On the way to transition, I spotted Coach char and waved to him.
This entire 0.4 mile stretch till transition was counted as swim time-a total of 46:31.
T1:The wetsuit was halfway down my waist. I yanked it off with a bit of a struggle. The trick with wetsuits is to pull them off as soon as you get out of the water. They come off easily that way. I threw my swim cap and goggles into a plastic bag along with my wetsuit. Slipping on my gloves, race belt, fuel belt, shoes and buckling my helmet, I was ready to go. 6 minutes spent in transition. I definitely could cut a few minutes here. Else it appears as though I was having a tea party.
Riding the wheels around Jack London Square: The bike course for the Olympic distance was 2 loops of the 12-mile course. I met Megha at the start who narrated about one of her pedals coming off. I shook my head. Something about this morning that seemed to cause a shaky start for some participants. She was biking with normal shoes and not her cleats. I assured her saying she’d be fine.
Biking through the quaint streets which consisted of eat-out joints, the roads soon paved way to the main roads and a flyover. At one point, I saw a fleeting view of the bay bridge, making me half wish I had carried my mobile with me to click a picture. I was averaging about 15 mph. Faster than the previous year. This time, I paid a lot more attention to my nutrition. Gulping down Gatorade at regular intervals, I managed to keep those tiresome cramps at bay. A lesson that I learnt from the tri Santa Cruz event last week.
I whizzed past the tracks and watched the trains. I was reminded of a few train song sequences from the Indian film industry. The Rajesh Khanna starrer Aradhana being one of time. Humming the popular song ‘Mere Sapnon ki raani’, I continued pedaling. I soon completed a loop and found my cohorts cheering for me. I smiled and focused on finishing my second loop.
This time I noticed a lot of squiggles on the walls-another trademark of an urban town. I passed some construction sites and the flyover again. It may not be the most beautiful course but definitely one of the fastest and flattest, making you feel that the wheels on your bike are wings. I finished 2 loops and was met with cheers from my cohort. I dismounted and wheeled my bike towards transition. Total time: 1:33:39-my fastest on my bike.
T2: I wheeled my bike into transition, mounted it on the rack, removed my shoes, helmet and goves. Slipping on my running shoes and gobbling a gu gel, I grapped a bottle of Gatorade and ran towards the run exit. 4 minutes spent there which I thought I can work on cutting it down further.
Run around Lake Merrit: I ran ahead on the platform and viewed the flight of stairs which I had to go through in the last mile to the finish line. I shuddered. Just then I noticed the train and had half a mind to jump on it and go home. However, the thought of my cohort and beer at the finish line kept me going.
I noticed people coming back from their run and we hi fived one another. Taking a left and a right and another left, I soon found myself on the trail leading to Lake Merrit. I soon caught sight of this still sheet of water surrounded by tall buildings. Joggers and walkers haunted the pavement around the lake. I noticed ducks on the lake, people rowing and a lot of activity going on.
Running beside a water body always calms me down, be it a lake or an ocean. I soon entered into my rhythm and continued my strides. I gulped down a honey stinger gel every two miles which kept me going strong. I was going to need all that energy to climb those 4 flights of stairs.
4thmile, 5thmile and soon I was making my way home. I found myself on the railway platform before bracing myself for the climb. A volunteer gestured me towards the stairs. “Boy I feel dead,” I muttered to the volunteer who empathized with me. “I know exactly how you are feeling,” he replied.
I survived the stairs, crossed the tracks and climbed down again. This definitely messed up my run timing but anyways I tried to pick up pace in the last few metres. I ran and ran till I saw the arch and heard the emcees voice.
I saw Arvind who said, “Good going Swetha,”. As I took a turn to run the last stretch, my cohort cheered for me. Those cheers boosted my energy probably more than Gatorade, enough for me to sprint to the finish line. I had finished in 3:37:46, shaving 34 minutes from my previous year’s timing.
After grabbing the finishers medal, I joined my cohort as we cheered on the rest of our team mates as they embraced the finish line. I heard that the beer was over but I managed to get some complimentary taste of cider. A good way to finish the race.
;
Later at home, we celebrated with a Cabernet Sauvignon accompanied with some chocolate cake. At the course preview 2 weeks earlier, I recollected the story which Sharon narrated to me. It was about a lady gorged on chocolate cake at transition 1 as a celebration for finishing her swim. Despite being the last one out, she was always cheerful and treated triathlon as a party. It was partly due to this story that I managed to overcome the infamous race anxiety that was bothering me for a while.
This was a toast to that lady for unknowingly helping me change my perspective and rediscover my love for the sport called triathlon.
The journey is an ongoing one. There is more to learn and more seasons to look forward to.
Thanking Coaches of Team Asha again and the cohort for their amazing support. Also thanking Viv Menon and my Mumbai road runners’ community for encouraging me always. And of course, my hubby and daughter. :)
Thanking Martin Spierings and USA Productions for giving me this opportunity to be one of the event ambassadors this year. Sharon Barclay for the swim clinic and her valuable inputs. Thanks to the race director Ryan Coelho, Janice Coelho, all the sponsors and volunteers for making this event a memorable one.
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