So, the first tri is in the bag and I tell you - it feels SO different. I feel like I worked hard, but I don't have sore creaky legs like after a hard run. Probably because I didn't run hard :)
Got set up at the park, met Brent and Becca and rode up to the reservoir. Blech, getting there late was yucky. Had to rack the bike Waaaay back on the beach which meant pushing it across the sand nearly the whole length for transition. That really stunk! But, I got a good spot next to the wall to be able to sit and put my shoes on. Started in the 5th wave, so 15 min after the 'start' with my AG gals in the water. It wasn't so bad in the open water and I didn't mind it at all, except I was so nervous about the race I was hyperventilating and couldn't get my breathing under control (this was happening all morning, it just became horribly apparent in the water). So, I pretty much dog paddled :) I was keeping up with and passing others doing free-style so it wasn't so bad, and I would free-style when my breathing felt under control too. Without seeing times I'm sure I was probably one of the last ones out of the water for my AG - definitely the slowest part for me. Legs felt like rubber as I tried to stand and run the last bit out of the water. Got back to the bike and grabbed my shoes and put my helmet on and threw the rest of the crap in the bag (like a bag drop for a race, but you just leave it there). Then, right behind me was bye-wing! Holy Moly she swims fast! She started 3 min behind me in the next wave and got out maybe 30 seconds or less after me. Yeah...swimming isn't my strong suit. I decided to take my shoes/socks to the asphalt and put them on which meant kind of 2 transitions for me, but I didn't want sand in the clips or shoes (ha!) so I thought I was being smart. Well, I couldn't get the sand off my feet (left my towel in the bag) and I wanted to just get going on the bike so I threw my socks on over my sandy feet and just hoped for the best. Well, after finally getting on the bike it was awesome! Great downhill for about 3-4 miles until we hit the uphill section. blech! When I run this route I call it my hill of despair, and it is about the same on a bike. I felt strong though and passed quite a few people! Even on my cheap ol' hybrid bike. The best part was passing guys that had started 6-9 minutes ahead of me :) The hill up to Kennecott was a bugger, but I just kept thinking "this is MY road!" I run it so often and it is SO close to home (I got to see my house a few times) I had to take the home field advantage and push through! Then, the downhill - wheee! THIS is why I cuss out bikers as cheaters when they pass me. Runners still have to work on the down hill, but when your bike is going 35mph and shaking like crazy, you aren't doing much work - just along for the ride, thanks gravity! The uphill back to the park from the HS wasn't as bad as I had imagined it, thank goodness. I also got to see my cute family waiting for me and cheering me on! Lifted my spirits a TON. I saw Brent on the run as I was finishing up the bike and warned him I was out to get him :) On the last stretch to the park I saw Becca in front of me. I couldn't believe I'd caught her on the bike. I knew she'd smoke me on the run, so it was nice to see her and say hi. Dismount out of the clips was nice and easy! Then running in bike shoes to my transition rack was a little strange, but still fast. Threw those running shoes on SO fast, grabbed my visor and I was off. I even forgot to put on my shorts to cover my thunder thighs on the run. I don't want to see the pictures! Legs felt fatigued and a little off balance for probably the first mile, but I just kept pushing through. FINALLY just before I got to see my family again they started feeling normal. Still no speed, but felt normal. Oh, and in that first mile I think I passed everyone that had passed me on the bike - or at least that I remember passing me. I knew I just had to wait for the run :) I never got passed in the run and over took a ton of people. I kept Becca in sight, but she was a good minute or so in front. We had a last uphill push to the park on finishing the run and I was finally feeling some life come back into my legs and I was ready to pour on the speed, but then I turned and well...there was the finish line. Stink. Oh well. A slow 5K, but at least I got done. There was only one other woman clear up by Becca that I could see as a potential to catch, so I honestly kind of wish I would've had a little more motivation to push that last mile or so, but I just didn't have anyone around me. Finished in a good time of 1:35:21 - good enough for 10th in AG (out of 40+ I think) and 36th in females (out of 250ish?). About 20 minutes after finishing I was ready to go run some more :) You feel tired, but your legs feel fresh! I really wish there was a 10 miler at the end of the bike, I might be able to catch some more people :) Chatted with Becca and Brent (never caught him dang it!) and then went to wait for bye-wing to come in. She had her usual amazing sprint to the finish and was looking strong! Saw some people I'd met in the process of getting ready for all this then waited for awards. Bye-wing took 3rd in her AG when she thought she was 4th, so we had a nice celebration about that! Then waited for Brent to get his award as well and cheered extra loud for the people that had left :) Then we got to see Kelli who was at the park for football and got a GREAT recap on her race. It was SO fun!! Plus, I don't feel exhausted like I usually do after a long run :) Swim time: no idea...I'll have to wait for them to post *11:10 swim - a lot better than I had originally thought! I was 17th in AG on the swim out of 39...not horrible. T1 time: 3:43 - yikes! was this a race or a nap time? :)
Bike time: garmin said 52 minutes for 14 miles -so avg 16.2mph (just checked splits and I am happy with my uphill times! Kept them about 10mph, which is MUCH faster than I anticipated). **52:49 official time. 11th in AG on bike - right on the $ practically with placing. Interesting, but I think this is honestly where the race is won/lost. T2 time: 1:24 - not too bad, but the people that know what they are doing are under a minute here!
Run time: 26:09 - ha! see, slow run on jelloish legs (AP: 8:20 splits: 8:11, 8:38, 8:11, 8:08 - last .15) **26:18 is official run time and I was 4th in my AG on the run....yeah, uh huh...I think this is my strength :)
Overall, in hindsight, I feel really good about this. I wish I could've gone just a liiiittle bit faster (3rd place in my AG was 1:31:35) and I feel like I have it in me - better transition time from swim to bike and better swim time. Now I want to 'tri' it again :) I guess maybe it's just the novelty of it as well right now. Too bad I don't have the money to buy all the expensive fancy stuff to help me go faster as well. But, I really did have an amazing time and a wonderful morning!!!
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