Missing the Starting Line

Posted on June 9, 2013 2 Comments

Today I was scheduled to race in the Espirit de She women’s sprint distance triathlon in Naperville, Ill. It would have been my fourth time on this course in the past five years. Unfortunately, I’m still getting over a nasty case of bronchitis and laryngitis and still on several medicines, with loads of upper airway and head congestion, so I bailed on the race. It’s the first tri I’ve ever bailed on, and I’m pretty bummed about it. It’s so disappointing to be in good physical condition but to be not functioning at 100 percent.

My concern was the swim; I couldn’t chance having a coughing fit or asthma attack in the water without access to my inhaler, and I also worried that with my ears being so congested (so odd and annoying), any water that lingers could easily turn into an ear infection. I do not want to be sick again, and I do not want to be on antibiotics again, so I stayed home while my friends completed the course.  

Missing the starting line at a race like this is doubly frustrating because in addition to missing out on race day festivities, you forfeit the fee to be on the course. In this case, I think it was $75. Quite the cost not to participate. There’s no sense in asking for a refund, these events are non-refundable because whether I’m there or not, the race must go on. The supplies, the permits, the race crew, the photographers; they’re all there whether I show up or not. So I don’t mind losing out on the money; the production crew has a job to do and the organizers are clear about the no-refund policy. But seeing all my friends’ smiling, confident faces in their race pictures? The camaraderie displayed in the pre-race group shots? The enthusiasm on display in their race reports? I’m more sad I missed out on the experience than the money.

All that said, I can’t be too sad; I have a long race season  ahead and now it’s time to transition from triathlon and focus on running. Marathon training officially kicks off tomorrow and I need to be mentally ready for all the ups and downs the next 18 weeks hold. In retrospect, I guess I’d rather have been sick before marathon training and be healthy for the rest of the summer and early fall. Time to focus on wellness and getting back to fighting form.

Category: Life
   Tags: Fitness , health , running , triathlon

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