The morning started off well enough...until I got about 1/4 mile away from the park (I'd ridden my bike over, because I only live about a mile away...why drvie?!?). I then realized I was an idiot and didn't have my helmet on my head!! What the!?! yeah...I'm brilliant! Went back home and all the cars I saw driving in I thought...there goes my good transition spot...and your next choice...and your next choice... grrrr.
Luckily, after I dropped my T2 stuff at the park I'd run into a friend and she took pity on me and took me up to the reservoir for T1 (the first transition is at the reservoir and you drop your bike there, but the 2nd transition is at the park where the finish line is - they take a drop bag that you fill with your swim stuff down to the finish and since you finish the bike and start the run there...your bike stuff should already be there). I got my body markings and a bike spot in the transition way at the back, but at least it was on the end. I hate not being on the end. Chatted with friends and fellow racers, tried to figure out if I'd registered Athena or not (I decided to just go with it and good thing, because I had!), and froze my tush off. It was cold and windy.
The race director gave the most hillarious, motivating pre-race speech ever (they always have pre-race meetings for tris to give any last minute details and course reviews)! It was crazy!! Something I'll never forget...my motivating speech to Escape from Blackridge! Then, we hit the beach to start the swim waves. I grabbed a quick gu on the way down. I knew I was going to need a boost! They started Elites first, then younger to older men's groups, then they did Clydesdales, Athena and relay all together in a wave. So, the Athenas were the first women to start the race. They had no women register as Elite.
Swim time: 9:28 - 6th in my AG and 1st in Athena
The swim was over and done with quickly. What I didn't like is that they didn't have a mat at the water's edge, you had to run up the gravel/dirt (only covered with a thin fake grass mat) up to the parking lot and then through the parking lot to the T1 area before crossing a timing mat. So, my swim time was also some running/hiking/ouchy foot time!
I had taped up my foot the night before with KT tape, because it feels a lot better when I do that on a run. I'd alcoholed the skin and heated the tape, I knew that sucker wasn't going anywhere! But, it still fell off in the water. I've really got to either get 100% over this or figure out how to get the tape to stick before the half IM - in 2 weeks! So, the hobble up the gravel and in the parking lot was only made worse by my unsupported foot.
T1 time: 1:34 - 4th in AG and 1st in Athena.
The transition went really well. Socks and bike shoes went right on and since we weren't in the sand, and run far enough out of the water I didn't need my water bucket to wash off my feet!! Grabbed glasses and helmet (I remembered this time!), threw the crap in my drop bag and I was off (but, I left the water, because I was on the end and if I would've dumped it - it would've gotten all over everyone else's stuff they had laid out! I wasn't going to be mean, but I didn't want to go all the way off the pavement to dump it either - so I left it out of the bag and just donated it to the cause). As I ran in my bike shoes to the other end of the trasition (like 30+ rows down) I was grateful I'd gotten the spot I did. It actually ended up being beneficial to be on the 'wrong end' of transition and run in my bike shoes down the length of the area, than in bare feet with my heel aching. See? it all works out in the end!
Bike Time: 46:03 - 19.45mph for the 14.9 miles (I mapped it, I didn't have a garmin and I don't know what they were calling it). I had the 7th overall fastest bike time! This is a tough biking route! Only one Athena beat my bike time by 40 seconds...more on that later :)
The bike was rockin' I love the downhill start! Gives you time to roll into it and get going. I was passing guys like crazy, and this is where I first realized that I was the first female out on the course! It was awesome to hear people cheering! "Yay! First Female!" I knew there would be people behind me in waves that would be faster than I was, but I got all the glory...and it felt good :) I worked the hill up to Kennecott well, I just kept pushing and telling myself "This is a sprint like a 5K! You keep going, no time to rest or recover or go slow...GO!" So, I did. Oh, and I loved chicking guy after guy on the bike too :) Only one guy passed me on the downhill, but he was a Clydesdale...can't argue...gravity likes him more :) I took my 2nd Gu at the High School, I figured I was about half way through the time it would take me to finish. I had the wrapper and just couldn't come to terms with chucking it on the ground. The first house that faces 6000W past the cemetary still had their garbage cans out from Friday, AND it was open! So, as I rode by, I took aim and BOOYAH! Scored a drive by basket as well :) We have an easy, but decent climb back up to the park and on the last turn off Mirabella in front of the stake center and then up Butterfield Park Way I passed a couple guys and I said "C'mon! Last Hill!! Make it Count!! Don't get chicked!!" One guy just laughed and said "too late!"
I unvelcroed my shoes and unclipped before the dismount area so that I could make a fast 2nd trasition. It seemed to work well!! Oh, and my new lock tight laces...no more tying shoes!
T2 time: 0:43 - there were only 2 females with faster T2 times! rockin!! But...one of them was the other Athena!
Here I'd been lulled (okay, not really, I was running scared!) into thinking I was first female and rockin' it when as I jumped out of the transition area there was a female that had an A on the back of her leg (they body mark you on the back of your calf with your age or division, so she had an A for Athena - I had my age, because that was what they asked me when they marked me! I wasn't trying to hide or anything). What the?!? Where in the world did she come from? Well, it got me running! I could tell from the first few steps she wasn't a strong runner and she had to be my only threat at 1st in my division at this point, so I had to dust her! Grabbed water and threw it in the general direction of my mouth at the aid station right out of the T2 area and I took off.
Run Time: 24:04 (3.2 miles, a long 5K) 7:30AP 11th overall fastest run time, 1st in Athena :)
Okay, I'm just going to say it. The run sucked. I'm sick of being injured. My heel hurt and since I haven't been running I felt like I was running through mud!! Okay, some of it may have been the jello legs from the push on the bike, and some of it may have been the nasty hill you have to run up the first 1/2 mile. I don't know, I just didn't enjoy the run like I normally do. It just never felt right and I never felt like I got into a rhythym and could push myself like I wanted to. Turnover was crappy, breathing was hard, lots of hills and trying to forget about the pain in my foot. blech! I was still passing people, but the run is supposed to be MY thing, where I finally kick it in and show these triathaletes who is boss, but I just didn't have it. I hate being injured and not having MY thing working well. HATE IT!! HATE IT!! HATE IT!!! Okay, rant over.
So, the last little downhill before your final climb to the finish I thought I could hear a female breathing behind me. Shoot. But, then a teen boy (who I had 6 min on due to wave start) passed me, so I figured it was him. But, I kept hearing it on the right. Looked back and there she was. Poo. I wasn't going to cross the finish line first feamle! She was running strong though, so I just did my best to hold on. You have to run up a dirt path then turn onto grass for your final 100M of the race, and it kind of stinks, but I did my best to turn it on and finish strong. The girls finish time was only 3:05 ahead of me, so she was only 5 seconds ahead of me on the line which it seemed more like 10-20 from my point of view. Oh well, they still announced me as 2nd female :) that was fun!
After looking at results posted I was really pleased that I ended up in 5th overall and 1st in my division, but I also would've taken 1st in my AG by 2 min too!! So, it wouldn't have mattered where I started, I still would've come out on top. Awesome!
I had fun chatting with other racers and getting to know some people in the tri world, got my awesome medal for my 1st place and ear buds and a waterbottle in raffle/random prizes. All in all it was a wonderful day and I'm really proud of the hard effort I put in...even if the run was the worst part. Stupid body.
My little 8 yr old also did a tri with his cousin again this week and he took 3rd in his AG!! There were like 20+ kids and cousin was 1st and he was 3rd! Awesome little guy! He really has the racer spirit! Now, he just needs to learn how to swim so he doesn't have to wear a life vest in the swim :)
Lauren (11) had a swim meet as well on Saturday. She improved all of her times despite not going to swim all summer! I told her now big things are expected of her that she IS swimming! :)
I love my little family, even if they do make me batty 99% of the time. That 1% is enough to keep me going! :)
Sorry...no pictures as usual. My support crew was obviously off doing more important things than supporting mom at her crazy race (like usual). Maybe someday my fan club will come watch one of my races and take pictures of me...someday. | 
