I stood up to pedal in a big gear for about a quarter mile, about 3/4 miles from home. Then I switched to a tiny gear and spun my legs like crazy for not very far, because it felt ridiculous and I was barely moving. Then I prepared myself mentally for the run, visualizing what I would do when I got home (remember to pee) and heading out on my run. I remembered to eat first. I realized I should add "apply chapstick" to my list of things to do during the transition.
I got home, saved my heart rate monitor data for the bike, went inside, changed shoes and headphones (long story), and took off. Immediately I felt a difference and the run was pretty smooth.
Earlier this week, I went to a "Tri 101" lecture hosted at Bicycle Village, and presented by the official Tri for the Cure coach, Melissa. She was great! She answered a lot of my questions, which I asked without hesitation or embarrassment in front of a fairly large group. I even made everyone laugh a couple times. And I learned a lot.
One of my concerns was about the bike ride course being narrow and perhaps requiring some finesse on the turn around points. I'm great going straight and around gentle curves, but this course appeared to have a few sharp turns and I was envisioning myself teetering around these precarious corners at a slow rate of speed, getting in everyone's way and perhaps unclipping in a panic. I asked if I should be worried about that if I'm not the most graceful, natural athlete on my bike, and she insisted I'd be fine, and everyone else looked relieved as well.
The other question was about what I should wear. Let me back up briefly to the hour or so before the lecture, which I spent trying on "triathlon apparel". This was an unenjoyable experience, to say the least. First, I was handed a pair of bike shorts with a tiny chamois and pockets. Yes, pockets. And for the top, I was handed a tank top with a shelf bra. Each of these items was over $70. I asked, what about a bathing suit? I was told, you swim in the shorts. Snarling a little, I took them to the fitting room to just see what this was all about. And it was awful. The shorts had that silicone grippy stuff around the leg and waist opening. So it was like, stuck to my body, too tight, squishing every little bit of cupcake up out around my waist, revealing what did not appear to be a triathlete's belly. Pouting a little and trying to save my pride, I pull on the tank. Immediately my waist disappears, leaving me looking much like I had no waist at all. Adding to this "not what I had in mind" vision, was the fact that it was completely uncomfortable. Even the mediums, I swear.
Anyway, I asked Coach Melissa what I could wear, and if anyone thought I really needed some expensive quick-dry mini chamois for an 11.4 mile bike ride. The answer from the crowd was a resounding "no" (which I now know to be true, having ridden today sans chamois), and she said, you can do the whole thing in your bathing suit. Do you have a bathing suit? The answer: I have one with flowers and crap hanging off of it, it's super cute. Ha ha ha.
So I spent arguably too much time on line hunting down the ideal racing triathlon appropriate bikini. I found one that was highly rated by someone who had just finished a triathlon of the same distance through a cute website called "team estrogen.com", and what appeared to be an identical one on "trisports.com", which offered 15% off for new customers. Sold.
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| Team Estrogen |
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| Trisports |
Upon further inspection, the next day, I notice these suits are not identical. Close. I like the one on team estrogen better, and no, I can't explain exactly why but I do. So, I've ordered three total suits (I've even admitted to a friend that they will all show up and likely be the exact same suit, but they just look different to me in the pictures, don't they??). One small from trisports, and one small and one medium (realizing I may not be as small as I thought) from team estrogen. Let's hope one fits, and that it too, is super cute.
Hmmm . . . over morning coffee, just reading slowly and letting my reactions wash over me. Sure you want to be adorable, but don't fall for what the manufacturers use to instill craziness in us. If the trikini says "M" and you need it to say "XS", then embroider that on the label or pay someone to do so. Wear what fits you. Name it whatever you need to. Especially for this undertaking. Otherwise, we've already discussed the kini a lot.
ReplyDeleteI might point out that the tiniest girl and fit, can be made to look all disproportionate if squished, squeezed or cinched in certain places. We have extra skin so we can bend and stretch without splitting open. That all has to go somewhere when we constrict it in some way (says the woman with an unreasonable resentment toward a particular clothing designer whose jeans . . well).
I'm going out in a few hours. I'd like to look nice. I wish I had something adorable with flowers and crap hanging off of it, but it's too late to go looking for such thing now.
not to be a total harpy, but, um, swimming? done any at all?
ReplyDeletewhat les says about sizes: yep. the sizing of women's clothing has been so jerked around it's pathetic. they have been supersized beyond all recognition. i should wear a size 4-6. but nooooo, now it's 0-2. puhleeze. and the more expensive the clothes, the smaller the size. who thinks this shit up? and why? never mind, rhetorical question.
and while i'm on this rant, the exception to the above is, you guessed it, swimsuits. as long as i've been buying them, i've had to buy a size considerably bigger than anything else i wear. not a big deal, but that means i can't buy anything online, unless i want to spend a lot of time at the post office returning stuff.
i have to try on everything. sheesh.
Don't sweat things out too much before the triathalon.
ReplyDeleteThere will be more than enough sweating during the triathalon itself.
@LM - I'm OK with it saying "M". I'll just assume it's for "minx" or "Morehouse". I just want the thing to not ride up my ass. Hopefully that is not asking too much.
ReplyDelete@rraine - I think we're similarly sized. I too, used to wear a 6, and now I wear a 0 or 2. I opted to order online because I couldn't seem to find what I wanted in the three stores I went to.
And no, I haven't swam yet. I do actually plan to go tomorrow...and yes, I'm aware that I'm putting it off. I'll swim in the one with flowers and crap hanging off of it until the elusive tri bikini arrives in the mail.
@Kirk - Word.
This is Rraine's fault ~ she started it. But if we're going to rant about clothes . . I own a pair of designer slacks that are probably the finest-made garment in my repertoire. Bought them cheap on eBay - they're likely about $300 pants. They are size 2. I had to return two previous pairs that I bought in my own size and keep going smaller. In no way should I wear a size 2 ANYTHING. But those pants will likely remain in the lineup until they rot on the hanger. Because of the 2. Sometimes I wear them places that don't require dressing up. Because of the 2 that nobody can see, but that I know is there. Sorry. I yam what I yam. Yay for clothing with flowers and crap hanging off of it.
ReplyDelete"M" - "Madam, get the hell out of my way, I'm in this to win"?
"Mighty" comes to mind.
ReplyDelete