The Kansas City Triathlon - TriathlonOlympic

WAHOOOO first race of the season was underway and I was loving it! I originally seeded myself in the smack-dab middle but at the last minute I said EFF IT and jumped right behind the front row.

The beginning was congested, but not terrible. No kicks or punches, just trying to find some room to do a proper stroke. About 300-400 yards in it cleared out and it was smooth sailing. I was feeling STRONG and SMOOTH! My breathing was going great and before I knew it, I was passing some men who'd started five minutes before me.

For most of the swim I found myself with no one directly around me. Which made me think I was doing really well, and the thought popped into my head that maybe I could be first out of the water in my age group (which is a super dooper long term goal of mine). This made me so excited and I concentrated really hard on my stroke and pulling long and strong.

Rounded the first and second round of boueys with no problems, but the last long straightaway into the beach (what, 700 yards?) THERE WERE NO BOUEYS! I knew I was headed in the right general direction but I could not see any boueys whatsoever. NONE! They hadn't placed any until like 100 yards from the finish. So I had no idea if I was weaving or what, but I just kept following the swim caps in the distance.

There was one girl who was on my right side for almost the entire swim. I would get a little ahead of her, then she would catch up. Remember the whole time I am thinking I might be in contention for 1st out of the water in my age group, and all I could think was "what if she's in my AG???" - on that last stretch with no boueys she went way off course and I never saw her again. Wonder if she was in my AG?!

Came to those two boueys near the end and swam till my fingers touched sand. I popped up and looked at my watch... 30:30 yaaaaay not bad at all! I never saw a timing mat so I didn't know where the swim ended but I was bound and determined to NOT LET ANYONE SPRINT PAST ME running into T2 (totally happened to me more than once). I ran my little legs as fast as I could and passed THREE guys walking before I even reached the parking lot. Someone yelled 'good job 21' (my number) as I ran into transition - I love it when people do that!! Transition was absurdly empty... it was weird.

Run run run run.... aaah there is my bike and with Tom's gone I had my "end spot." Fabulous.

NOTHING. I rawked this swim and came in 3rd (3/13) in my age group. It was one of the best swims I've had! I really think these long distance swims are my strength... as opposed to the sprint or shorter oly swims. Just not enough time to settle into a strong stroke.

Someday I will be first... so WATCH OUT female 30-34 age group. Watch out.
:)

Wetsuit came off quickly - very pleased with this.
Socks, bike shoes, sunglasses, helmet, GO!

6/13 in age group.

Learn to ride sockless, this will save a few seconds.

2 loop course that had quite a few turns near the beginning after we got out of the lake area. This made it difficult for me to keep my speed up since I'm not great at cornering or turning. It also ran through a residential area, which was COOL cause people were out in their yards cheering, but there were lots of turns and even a roundabout that really slowed me down.

Both loops were fairly uneventful - which is a good thing!! I got passed by 4 or 5 ladies in my age group which I expected, eeeh. Typical race for me.

The plan was to drink my GU20 and eat a GU at mile 20. I did this on schedule and it worked out great!

There are one or two big hills, which were fun (especially the downhills!) and the rest was mostly flat or tiny rollers. I was able to get and stay in aero for most of the 2nd half of each loop.

At the end, my bike computer showed me averaging 16.8. I know that was with me running it in and out of transition, but I'm thinking the course might have been a bit short? Oh well, it's still cool for me to see an 'above 17mph' result in a bike split for me. In fact, that is FANTASTIC and I'm pretty stoked about that. I've only averaged over 17mph on one race, which was a pancake flat sprint last summer. So... yay me!

Learn to turn and corner.

Super fast T2, no issues whatsoever.
4/13 in age group.

Nada.

Started off the run re-tying my ponytail and putting on my visor. Saved some time in T2 by not doing this then. Good decision.

Legs were a tad heavy for the first mile, and I felt slow. But when I got to the 1-Mile marker I saw I had run a 9:30ish?!?! Uuum that is AWESOME for me!!! It was getting hot and I knew the course had little shade, so I took two waters at the aid station; dumped one on my head and drank one. OMG this invigorated me! GO GO GO see if you can keep this pace!!!

Mile 2 my legs felt better and like I said, I was invigorated from the ice cold water. At the 2-Mile marker, again, I had run a 9:30ish, actually a bit faster (not crystal clear w/ the math in a race but I knew I was close)! OMG! GO GO GO!

Mile 3 I wanted to slow down, but I asked myself... "Can you go faster?" and the answer was "yes, just try." so I did, and I kept the pace. This was so awesome. Coming into the end of the first loop I will admit I was jealous of seeing the finishers milling around drinking beers and what not. Onward!

The next loop was almost identical to the first, except I was getting noticeably warmer. It wasn't absolutely scorching, but I won't lie... it was hot. The dump and drink tactic was so refreshing at each aid station, it really saved me.

At Mile 5 I was REALLY hot. I was passing guys in their 40s who were walking, and even shuffling slowly. I just kept booking. Now, my goal was to come in under 3 hours and I was pretty sure I'd make it. I was just so stoked I was running under 10s, I could not believe it!!!!! (maybe marathon training really paid off?!?!)

I saw Tom and Eric with about 1/2 mile left, yaaaay! I picked it up for that last half mile around to the finish line and kicked it in. What an AMAZING run for me!

Even though I came in next to last in my AG for the run (which really surprised me), I am NOT disappointed. Well, okay, that is never fun to be next to last. But considering how far I've come on the run, I am ECSTATIC! I'll have to go back and look at my races last year, but in a triathlon, I've only averaged under 10s, again at that sprint last year. I think I've found my new triathlon run race pace.

Just keep getting faster. Whatever I did between last season and today worked.

WATER, I needed WATER!
Got a towel and a really cool medal (cut out shape of the Kansas City skyline), found Tom and Eric and got me some water. The only food I could eat there was tootsie rolls (heh, why did I immediately thing of 2Goggs?) so I got a bunch of those.

Yacked with the boys about our races, looked at our results, and put everything in the car. Headed back just in time to hear the entire awards ceremony to cheer for everyone. Some fast people out there today!

After that, I took the opportunity to dorkily get my photo taken with hottie pro Ben Schloegal! Yeah. I know. DORK! I have been wanting to get my picture with him since the first time I met him a year ago, and I finally did today! LOL!

Rode back to grandma's house, chatted with them, and then hit the road. Taco Bell (uuugh I know! What?) and a 3-hour drive later I was home sweet home.

What a super amazing day!


Nothing. I am finally getting a little faster and am loving every minute of racing.


First year for this race and it was absolutely flawless! These guys are goooooood... thank god for a new organization putting on quality races in this area. Soooo many volunteers, plenty of drink stations, superbly-marked bike and run course... what more could you ask for? There was even TONS of beer at the awards ceremony. You know how it usually runs out? I saw them re-loading the ice bins towards the END of the awards ceremony. Now, I didn't drink any but that is some good thinking. Even the awards ceremony had a level of energy I haven't seen at a local race in a long time. Very cool.

I HIGHLY recommend!!! Great job Ryan and staff!