After the two last
races I decided to approach the Pentathlon in a much smoother way. I didn't get
to train properly this winter in between recovery from the worlds, injuries
when I took back training etc. So yes I am not a fast skier or skater due to my
technique, or lack of, but I did as much I could do to try and enjoy the race.
I decided to go there
to aim for a top 10 women…I failed miserably.
The week before the
race I got sick and that wasn't totally solved by the end of the week.
We left on Friday and
got to Quebec City that same evening. When was time to go to bed I realized I
had a swollen redness on the side of my knee that was pretty painful. I thought
it might be a zit or something but it ended up being an infection (or at least
it’s one of the possibility after a check in in the hospital two days later
because the redness was expending). Anyway went to bed still in the mood of
everything is gonna be fine. How can it be that horrible??
Well here the story
comes. On Saturday morning we went to pick up my bike at GTH (great service and
their mechanic is the best, thank you Oli). Brand new plates etc.. We then went
to registration and to prepare our transition area. We had breakfast at 8am and
had eaten nothing since. It was now noon. After eating a cereal bar and a
banana we left for the start of the race. What was I thinking??? A special K
bar and a banana???
The start of the bike
was like last year, style le Mans. I realized quickly that I was a lot slower
than last year but the conditions were better. 7min slower than last
year..first shock. After thinking about it I have not touched a bike for the
whole winter so that would teach me a lesson.
After the bike I was
getting low in energy but decided I would eat a bar at the end of the run. The
first lap was awful as my feet were frozen and painful. I felt better on the
second lap but bonked on the third again. I then tried to eat but without too
much success. Not even a half fruit2 and I left for the ski.
I was already about
10min slower than last year and was getting in the very back of the racers. The first lap of the ski was the worst bit of my race. I totally panicked when
people were passing me (not always very friendly either). The second lap went a
little better but the mental was so so down…On the third lap every single
spectator was gone on the ski course…Just imagine the psychological impact that
it can have and time it by 4 just because I’m a drama queen…
End of the ski
…relief…only temporary.
You had to walk with
your skates on for the whole length of the transition before being on the ice.
What a stupid thing to enforce. It is the most dangerous thing to ask racers to
do but oh well. When I got to the ice it was pretty impressive. The rink being
about 420m it gets crowded fairly quick. I got hesitant and didn't have the
energy to push it but I was still going. We had 20 laps to do. Do you know how
hard it is to count 20 laps on skates??? After 12 laps I got confused. People
were screaming to other people how many laps were left for them and I lost
count. I tried to ask if there was a way to know and got no as an answer. James
had finished by that time (as well as lots of the girls) and tried to cheer me
up but I was desperate to know how many laps I was supposed to still do. I
ended up getting out (apparently at the right number of laps) and just wanted
to end that nightmare by then.
James pushed me to
keep on going and so I went on the snowshoes. The first two laps were going ok
as I was running with another man but the last lap I really hit the wall badly.
I don’t even know how I pass the finish line. I realized on that last lap I had
forgotten to drink during those 3 hours and in the same matter…to EAT!!!
I’m really not proud
of myself neither for my performance nor for my lack of common sense with my
nutrition and hydration. I guess it will teach me a good lesson.
I’m very thankful to
James for cheering me on and up and for pushing me to not DNF.
On a brighter side I
decided it is the end of winter and will start over my training with paddling
running and biking…I will be BACK!!!
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