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 Swim
Comments: I was in the last wave since I registered for the Athena group. We didn't get to start until 9:15 a.m. They used a cannon for the start. The swim was fine overall. I navigated a lot better on this swim. I kept getting sandwiched between these two guys and tried to get out for a better swim, but just couldn't. Didn't get kicked much, just boxed in a lot. Once I almost sank because I ran into 3 swimmers and we were just going nowhere. Had to just treadwater and then breaststroke to get going again. Had two huge gulps of lake water when twice I came up for a breath and either ran into a wake or someone kicked at the right time and instead of air, I got water. Choked the first time, but just drank it in the second time. Stood up way too early at the end of the swim....oh well! But you know, my swim time was a bit faster than at Jefferson and this one was a tad bit longer, so yay! What would you do differently?: I need to swim more aggressively....I guess that means I have to swim faster! And try not to stand up too quickly, swim closer to shore. I also need to actually train for the swim!  Transition 1
Comments: The transition area was huge! The run up from the beach was at least 100 yards and I was at the end of the transition area by the exit. That was great for the bike out and the run out, but terrible on the bike in. More on that later. I need to find my rhythm in transition. I did jump in the pool provided to wash the sand off my feet. Got to the bike, put on the bike shoes first because I was focused on drying my feet off on my towel. Then I put on my sunglasses, number and helmet. I put on the camelback and that just added to my time because I couldn't get the second strap on. Ran out with the bike. Was nice to be cheered on by several of the bike people I knew. Had trouble clipping in and when I tried to get on my bike, the bike seat caught on my tri shorts and I lost my balance for a second. What? Do I have a saggy butt? Hm, maybe just not a great pushoff...and Mike wants me to raise my bike seat? What would you do differently?: I need to practice transitions and find my rhythm and figure out how to get on the bike better....those clips just don't seem to clip on all that smoothly. I'll have to work on that.  Bike
Comments: Well, a bit of an unfair home court advantage, I guess. Since this is my home turf, I've been training the bike course. So since I knew the course, my plan was to take advantage of where I knew how to go fast and just do it. I was able to pass a few people and of course I got passed too. This time I was riding with my bike computer intact and instead of using the distance as a gauge, I switched to time so I could tell how well I was doing and watched the road markers instead. The ride was smooth and I could tell I was doing well. The hills were still hard for me, but I made it through. I even passed 3 riders on the home stretch because I knew there was one last downhill left before the turn into the park. I wanted to pass the guy in front of me as we neared the transition while in the park, but thought I would just take it easy and save the legs for transition and the run. What would you do differently?: I need to keep training hills....or start training hills. Need to increase my speed as well. Transition 2
Comments: The transition was set up where I had to run my bike from the bike in all the way around to where my spot was. I think I had to run about 70 yards or so. It was hard to run with the bike shoes on, but I doubt I would have done better with the bike shoes off. Wished my transition time could have been better, but trying to run was really awkward. What would you do differently?: I'm not sure. As an Athena I was positioned at a disadvantage. It would have been faster to run with running shoes around the transition area out to the run out, but oh well....luck of the draw.  Run
Comments: I ran! Yes, I ran! I didn't feel as energetic on this run as I did at IronGirl, but it was a lot hotter too for this one. I felt really slow, but I just kept running. I was getting really tired towards the end and was really annoyed at being passed so much by all these people that I passed on the bike! At the last 1/8 of a mile I spotted Mike. He is the track coach at a local high school and he obviously was done with the triathlon....he was dressed in surfer shorts and had flip flops on. I don't know who he was looking for, but when I waved at him he said, "I'll run with you" That was sooooo nice! He ran alongside me for the last part until we got to the finish chute. We chatted along the way with me just sputtering about how I hate that my run sucks and how I need to work on it. He was so sweet and encouraged me to come out to Wednesday track night and told me that he would help me improve my run times and get me ready to kill the competition for next year. He stopped right at the chute and let me run in on my own. My tri club buddies were there and some ran alongside the chute as I came in and they were yelling and cheering for me. Such wonderful support! What would you do differently?: I need to run more. How many times have I said that? Just need to run, run, run. Funny thing, this was my fastest run to date at a triathlon! Post race
Warm down: Got my finisher's medal...love it! Very cool!! Stayed at the chute to cheer for my friend Debbie. Got some food and water and chilled a bit before going home. What limited your ability to perform faster: Actually this was my personal best! All of my times for each section, except for the transitions, were personal bests!!!!!!!! I was very excited to see the results because I wasn't sure how well I would do. I do feel like I should have done more to prepare for this triathlon though. With more training I could definitely have done better. Event comments: I love RiverCities. The only downside is that this is such a huge triathlon that it was easy to get lost. I was a bit bummed out that I didn't get to hang out with anyone....my tri friends or my BT contacts! I was so lonely!!!!! Wahhhhh!!! Well, it was hard to find people in the crowd and everyone seemed really focused on the triathlon ahead. I did finally catch up with some of the girls on the beach before the waves went on, but I missed all the hanging out I got to do at the smaller triathlon (Jefferson). And for sure next year I'm going to meet up with the other BTers (if they will still befriend me!). This was actually my best triathlon to date and it was sweet to compete and come home knowing this because I really didn't "feel" this triathlon at the beginning. I am psyched to continue training and improving my times. I know next year will be even better!!!! Last updated: 2006-05-31 12:00 AM
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United States
Sports Spectrum
90F / 32C
Sunny
Overall Rank = /
Age Group = Athena
Age Group Rank = 11/20
Spent Saturday morning helping out at the race packet pickup. Thought it would be fun to see the other competitors in a different light and see if I could spot anyone I knew...like other BTers! Had fun handing out race packets. Suddenly, I see this man and a family walking towards me. He comes up and extends his hand and introduces himself and his family. It's The Bear....legendary, I might add. It takes me a second to register who he is because I had only seen pictures from his album from last year and for some reason I had envisioned in my head The Bear as this burly, 6'5" giant bear guy....kinda like Mr. Clean, only bigger! And here was this very muscular, tanned Yul Brenner look-a-like! And hey, you didn't stop to talk to me after you introduced yourself!!!! I didn't want to chase him down or anything, but it was nice to meet him and his family, even if it was briefly.
And yes, I'm kicking myself for missing the BT dinner at Macaroni Grill. Will you guys save me a seat next year?
Oh yeah, I spotted The Bear and occupants in his SUV while driving in Shreveport in the early afternoon hour! I think it was fate telling me that I should be at dinner that night! I didn't want to wave for fear he might think I was stalking him. I was in the green CRV btw....by the water fountains! I only spotted him because of the USAT sticker and cool triathlon stickers...very cool!
Woke up at 5 a.m. and got ready. Had some coffee and half a bagel and a banana. Got my camelback ready and then off to Cypress. The line was already long by the time I got there a little after 6 a.m. When I got to the trunk to get the bike out, lo and behold there was a huge puddle...what? OMG, my entire camelback and emptied out! I had prepared some HEED with water and ice because I wanted it for the bike, instead of using my water bottle. This was a new camelback that I hadn't even tried out. Note to self: DO NOT use new equipment at a race unless you've tried it out! Luckily Jen had some extra water and we filled the camelback with that. Crisis #1 solved.
Got to transition and set bike up. Made small talk with another Athena next to me. It was nice to make some connections. Went to get bodymarked. Jen was pouting when I was finished. Crisis #2...the camera batteries are dead and she forgot to pack recharged ones. No pictures for the rest of the triathlon. Oh well.
Went to the beach to test out the water and put on swim cap.
Did I mention that for some reason I was a bit lethargic....physically and emotionally? I was hoping to get some energy from being at the tri, but still had a hard time finding that adrenaline. This is a huge triathlon, my biggest yet, and it was hard to find the rest of the tri group. We were spread out and since I missed the BT dinner last night, I didn't recognize the BTers....I'm all ALONE!!!!!! I hate being alone.