I felt really good on the swim! I felt strong and fast (for me). I was able to track fairly well and didn't do too much zig-zagging. I even managed to see the white buoys in the morning sun.

Compared to my time back in June, I trimmed off nearly 6 minutes!

Just train more.

OK, after my spill last month at this same race, I was a bit anxious about the bike leg. But I have to say I was more worried about crashing somewhere on the course. Instead, I fell over in transition this time. Doh! I attribute it to being a bit wobbly after the swim still. I just got tangled up on my own feet while I was running my bike out and still trying to get my gloves on.

So, I scraped up my left palm and my left knee a bit, but nothing dramatic. I also got a ton of bike grease on my right leg from where I fell into my chain ring. More on this later.

Managed to rescreen my shoulders and face, but forgot to screen anywhere else.

Focus.

Because I was in the last wave and one of the last people out of the water, I was one of the last riders out on the course. This time, I got my very own escort car! Actaully, the guy started out riding pretty close to me, but after a couple of annoyed glances from me, backed off (I think). To be honest, I didn't realize it was a member of the TBF staff at first, I just thought it was a car that was too chicken to pass me.

But, after a couple of miles, I got used to having a car riding behind me and didn't think about it again. Well, that's a lie. Knowing that it was a race person behind me I started thinking he was critiquing my performance, and I have to say that I probably pushed harder and rode better knowing he was there. I couldn't slack off at all. So, I have to give this guy props for pushing me to trim off nearly 20 minutes off my time in June (not including the difference in distance).

When I was riding out, I saw plenty of riders on their way back in and got a good number of "Good jobs!" But I didn't see any riders heading out with me. I didn't get passed (because there was only one other person behind me). I hit the turnaround and waved to my personal driver-guy and told him to turnaround and let's go. I gave a hearty cheer to Barbara, the 62 year old woman who was behind me.

But around mile 15, I got a good view of the road ahead of me and *gasp* I saw another rider going my way. I looked and thought "I wonder if I can catch her?" She passed a sign, so I timed the distance between us. Just at 1 minute. I thought again, "I wonder if I can catch her?" I began to push just a tiny bit harder (because I was already pushing pretty good). I was more inspired to push up the hills and go aero on the down side. When I saw her again, I timed the distance. 30 seconds! I was catching her! That's when I began to hammer (my version of it anyway). By mile 20, I caught her and passed her.

But, then she was just behind me, so I had to keep it up a while to make sure I got a good-enough lead.

All through out the ride, I made sure I drank and drank and drank from my Camelbak - I had 2 liters of Karen-ade in there and I finished it off around mile 23.. I had two gels, one at about mile 5, and one at about mile 15.

Nothing really.

Easy T2 because I still have toe cages on my bike, so it was just a matter of dumping my helmet and gloves and grabbing my race belt and hat.



I should have screened again.

OMG! It was so f-ing hot. Hot isn't even a strong enough word. I think a convection oven would have been cooler. The only breeze was even hotter than the still air.

I started out fairly strong, still riding the wave of exhiliration at knowing I really did well on the bike. But I seriously had to pee, so I had to go into the little porto-let which was like a sauna. A poopoo-steam sauna at that. Yuck yuck yuck. I was tempted to leave the door open, because I didn't care so much if people saw me pee.

It was all I could do to make it to the first aid station. I swear the course was twice as long this time. I kept telling myself that I would be able to see the tent just around the next bend. Then, as I rounded the bend, I wouldn't see it, so it had to be the NEXT bend. No, I mean the NEXT bend. Finally, I rounded the corned and there it was... a tiny spec off in the distance! Crap!

I pushed on, and finally got there. I "borrowed some shade" and poured at least three cups of the most delicious, wonderfully cold water on my head and chest and back. Ahhhhh... I even drank a cup of two as well. And then! There she was, the woman I passed on the bike. Damn! She was catching me. I sighed deeply and stepped back out into the sun to run some more. At this point, she was not too far behind me and we chatting a bit.

At the next aid station, I did the same routine, only the water wasn't as cool and I didn't linger as long, although I knew it would be another 2 miles before I was able to drink again.

She kept up with me nicely all through the next two miles, but then on the single track I thought I lost her. I'd sneak a peek behind me as I rounded each turn to see if she was still there, but I lost her. Or so I thought.

Finally, after some serious inner-cursing, I made my way back to the aid station with the lukecool water. As I was dousing myself again, there she was... running through the grass and clearly NOT ON THE COURSE! WTH?! Now I was really mad.

I ran on, knowing it was only a half mile the the glorious cold water aid station. But it was all I could do to not let that woman pass me. When I rounded the corner and saw the tent, I saw another runner standing there. I thought, "Maybe I'll pass her at least". But, when I got to the tent I had to stay for several minutes. I must have gone through about 8 cups of water, when both those women took off running again. One of the volunteers, a kid probably about 15, asked me "You gonna let them pass you like that?" To which I replied, "Yes." They were both a good way down the road before I took off again. At this point, I was drenched in cold water, so even the hottest breeze felt cool. Thank heavens for that!

I never did catch either of them. I stopped being mad at the woman from cutting the course because she clearly would have beaten me anyway. I just ran my run and only let myself walk when my HR topped 175, and even then, I only let myself walk until it dropped to 170, which was really only a few seconds.

As I rounded the last turn back towards the park, and the finish area, I saw Eric waiting for me on the course. As always, he ran the last little bit with me, and we chatted some and he kept me going (knowing that he was going to show up somewhere in the last mile kept me honest and made me push harder than I may have otherwise).

As I entered the park and hit the grass I literally knelt down and kissed it. It felt so soft and happy under my poor, tired, hot, aching feet. I heard my friends cheering for me and I smiled and waved. As I hit the last little bit of grass before the chute I charged and hit the chute a full speed. I gave the crowd the "Hey, where's my cheer" sign and heard my name on the PA. It was amazing! I will never get used to that feeling of "OMG! I did it!"

Bill with TBF was there at the finish line to give me a bottle of cold water and I gave him a hug. If it wasn't for folks like TBF, there wouldn't be these small, accessible races for BOPers like me.


A little heat training would have gone a long way, I think.

I immediately headed for the first shady spot I saw and sat down to drink my water. I looked at my watch and laughed out loud. I had set a goal of a sub-4 hour race. My final time on my watch read: 3:59:59. Hahaha.

I walked around a bit my my friends and Eric. Chatted with Steve, the EMT guy who helped me last race with my wounded arm and shoulder. Then, packed up my stuff and headed to the car. We loaded up the stuff in the car and then walked back down to the lake. Because I had drenched myself pretty good with water and then ran on that dusty fire road, my legs were covered with red mud. I still had my tri clothes on, but I had switched to my Teva. So when I got the water, I just walked straight in. Ahhhhhhh!

More about the grease on my leg: When we got back to our friend's apt, I wanted to shower to get the mud and grease off me before we headed out for lunch and a trip to the waterpark. When I scrubbed to get the grease off my leg, it hurt like a witch. I realized, not only did the gear ring smear grease on me, it punctured my leg. Now I have a portion of a gear imprinted on my leg with little red dots. Ouch.


The heat, no doubt. Considering I only beat my time from June by 6 minuted, but I clearly beat my swim time by 6 minutes and my bike time by 20 minutes.... I'm sure I was 20 minutes slower on the run.


I love the TBF races. Everyone is so friendly, helpful and encouraging. For the FOPers, they races can be very competitive. For the MOPers and BOPers, the races are very accessible and non-indimidating.