The night after the event was a bit restless - as to be expected. We woke up exhausted and sore. We couldn't help but think how incredible the mind is when it comes to showing up to perform. It was as if the mind knew we had completed the 3-day event and it could finally rest. With the mind at rest, the body was able to also shut down and start the recovery process. The human body is truly amazing.
After enjoying a hearty dinner a few hours after the event (Moe's - we both ordered the Close Talker bowl with lettuce, rice and beans, topped with tofu and all of the other veggie toppings, avocado and cheese). It's not uncommon for athletes to crave salt and fat after a long distance event for the body is depleted. The brain knows that the body is in a very vulnerable state so it seeks (or asks) for the most energy dense options to help restore health. Of course, with the body being in such an exhausted state, digestion is slow and compromised. There have been plenty of Ironman distance events where we have craved a hearty meal after racing for 9+ hours, only to be able to stomach a few bites.
But of course, nightime munchies and post race insomnia are a thing. We tossed and turned throughout the night and I finally got myself up around 5am. I ate a bagel w/ butter which seemed to hit the spot for an hour....until I was ready to eat again.
When working on the computer outside turns into a hard nap.
After catching up on emails (I did not open my computer throughout the race....which I think is a first for me to go 3 days of no computer work) and other work stuff, we got ready for the awards banquet.
We were really looking forward to the banquet because it was our first opportunity to really see the other athletes in a normal setting (with normal clothes). We sat outside of a restaurant in a wide open pavilion (and wore masks while we weren't eating). The meal options were limited as it was a BBQ but the race staff was able to get us some plant based options. Karel has been enjoying more of a plant based eating strategy over the past few months after blood work in June was flagged for extremely high cholesterol due to genetics. Not to worry - croissants, chocolate and pastries are still consumed as any food can fit into a health promoting, performance enhancing diet.
The awards banquet was just as special as the rest of the race. We receive unique awards and Karel and I even got to give a short speech as the overall winners (and new course record holders - male and female) for the event in the 4th year running.
As for the rest of the day, we ordered out veggie burgers and fries as we needed a hearty meal to continue the recovery. We stayed at the most beautiful airbnb condo in Palm Coast, which was just a short walk to the beach. We enjoyed a ~20 min walk on the sand as the sun set, which was about all the energy that we had for "exercise" for the day.
We went to bed super early on Monday night (like 7:30pm - we were so tired) and after packing up the car, we made our long drive home back to Greenville on Tues around 10am. As for the rest of the week, we continued to eat what our body craved but also got back to a more nourishing diet to help with recovery. The main priority was sleep for the rest of the week and a little swimming and biking to help with recovery.
Along with the kind congratulatory remarks that we have received from so many (Thank you!), the number one question that we have received is "Would you do it again."
Our answer is a definite yes, but.
Yes in that we loved the race staff and participants which made this event even extra special. And during these unique circumstances of our nation, we have so much gratitude that we were able to participate in this event. More than anything, this race really fed our soul. We loved the adventure feel of doing something epic and new with our body and mind. It tested us in different ways and really lit the fire inside of us that was dimming due to so many cancelled races. Because everything went so smoothly for our first extreme triathlon, it would be hard to top this experience.
But, the purpose of this event was to feel challenged. We want to continue to find ways to challenge ourselves. One of the reasons why we love long distance triathlon racing is that we constantly feel challenged in training and on race day. Although the half and full distance are long events, they still allow for improvements in terms of getting better at not slowing down. I hesitate to use the word "faster" because it's all relative in long distance racing. But in ultra endurance events, I feel it's more about the completion of the event itself as the accomplishment - as that is what we felt in this recent Xtreme Tri. We never take long distance racing for granted and we feel so lucky that we get to do what we can do with our body and mind. I never want to settle or just get comfortable going longer. I want to continue to explore what I am capable of as a long distance triathlete. We would like to do more ultra endurance events but it isn't something that will replace focusing on the half and full distance (which are plenty long).
Thank you again for all of the support and kind words before and after the event. We are so grateful that we remained in good health for this event and continue to stay healthy during such a scary time for our nation. Keep yourself well and thank your body daily.
