American Triple T - Race #2: Individual Time Trial - TriathlonOlympic

The water got even colder with all the rain. We were supposed to be able to stand up and turn around for the 2 lap course, but the rain caused the lake to rise almost 2 feet, so we could just swim onto the beach! It was great. I felt absolutely excellent on this swim, and passed a ton of people. I LOVE my De Soto wetsuit!!

Nothing, swam hard, but was still saving it.

Taking of this wetsuit is actually pretty easy! Transitions will be faster, eventually.

Well well well, what have we here? Are these hills? Like, as in, real hills?! Wow! No one exaggerated when they said this was one m-fing hard course! :) Started out with a 3mile false flat, then the real climbing started. We climbed about 4-5 miles up a twisty road, so I never knew where the top was. I tried to keep my watts in check, but I was at 200-250 for the entire climb. And I was in my absolute littlest gear, with only 70-80rpms going 8-10mph. Ouch.
Then we descended!!! WHeee!!!!!!!!!!! I had decided to switch my 808 front to my regular training wheel because I was scared to descend on the twitchy 808. Good move. These are some for real hills, and I had to brake because of all the turns and gravel from the storm.
The way back was harder because that really fun hill we descended, yah, it was fun because it was even steeper than the hill on the way out. Wow, climbing is hard! Fun ride, though, but I was a bit nervous about going so hard on the second of 4 races.
Average power: 170

This is the run course for the entire weekend. It is an out and back on a fire road with some decent sized hills, lots of rocks and ruts, and plenty of trees. Beautiful, challenging run. I felt great on this run and really felt like I had a perfect balance of pushing myself, but not to the point of no recovery for the rest of the weekend.
About half way through, my friend Doug shouted 'go get him- 30 seconds!'. I didn't know what he meant, because I already knew I was in first place for girls- so who was he talking about? Not Ryan, he started behind me, and I didn't see him on the bike! Couldn't be....until, I saw his smiling face at the turn around. I WAS PISSED! I couldn't believe he got ahead of me!! Not fair! haha. He's so fast!

Not let Ryan pass me in Transition!! ARG!

The 'warm' down for each race was to go jump in the freezing cold creek and soak your legs for 10minutes. This should be mandatory at all races!!! What a fun time!
I felt really great after this race, and thought, maybe this weekend won't be too bad! It was also fun to be one of the top females (I actually won this race, but that doesn't really matter). Some random guy even knew who I was- he recognized me from Muncie! That felt pretty cool.
However, this was the second race that Ryan beat me. Oh well, looks like my reign as Queen of the House is waning! Stupid testosterone.... :)


Great times! I really started loving the race, the camaraderie, just the entire atmosphere. Hard course though, holy crap. Hills, hills, and yeah, more hills.