ChesapeakeMan Ultra Triathlon - Triathlon

Brutal. Really slow start, somehow all the slow swimmers got up front. I had nowhere to go. With only about 300, you'd think it wouldn't be so rough, but it was ridiculous. I got kicked in the face and lost my goggles for a second. I finally was able to actually swim, and then the chop hit me in the face on the way back to the boat ramp.

I finally got around the first loop, swam by the dock, looked up and waved to no one in particular just to amuse myself, and headed back out again. Pretty clear water, however, I got repeatedly stung and touched jellies. At one point one got in my nose and stung me! Then on the forehead, the hands, etc. I touched one putting my hand in and recoiled in disgust once. That caused me to cramp for a second. Great, just what I need!!

Finally got around to the pier, praying not to encounter the 30+ jellies I counted yesterday that were hanging around, ready to be DONE.

Nothing, the swim the day before was essential to determine goggles and wetsuit to use. The water was glass like the day before. Oh well, such is the weather and triathlon!

Moved rather quickly through this. Saw several friends, including my transition angel Susie who had helped me at Ironman Louisville last year. She helped to turn on my GPS unit. I was impressed how quickly I moved through this, even with a wetsuit and putting on gloves.

This was a really lonely course. Very few people. I have my report and it says I only passed one woman and was passed by 19 men. I don't think thats too bad, but I don't know how many MEN I passed. I know quite a few. :) I was first on the bike out of my 6 and 4th out of 21 women. Biking on the flat clearly is my strength, but this was about the worst bike I've had in a long time. I felt miserable the whole time. Couldn't get comfortable, and my inner thighs were aching the whole time, maybe b/c I got them grastoned two days before. In any case, I was never happy on the bike. And the 30mph wind gusts and 20 mph sustained winds were so disheartening.

I did see two turkeys cross the road in front of me on Smithville, and when I turned onto Andrews (that horrid road of bumps) I saw a sign for "Crapo Road". I said it out loud and the police officer laughed and said "yes, its actually Crapo Rd". You know, its the little things you have to do to entertain yourself! I said hi to a couple of horses, FREAKED out at a snake that was streaking along the shoulder, and looked for eagles (didn't see any, boo). I sang a little (don't remember what songs). Generally, it was a boring, hard ride. I am impressed that I maintained as fast a speed as I did, as it was a crosswind or headwind about 98/112 miles!

I had a terrible headache when I finished from the 4 bumps we had to go over on Andrews Road (there were 8 feet wide gravel portions that had huge bumps in and out of them, and we had to go over them on two loops!). When I got off the bike, I was so sore in my inner thighs that I was bowlegged the first few steps!! Oh boy, and now I gotta run a marathon.

Not really sure. I trained on a lot of flat, and in winds. You definitely have to get used to going on the flats, and this course has nothing but flat and wind!

Stumbled off the bike, carefully put away my helmet, gloves, sunglasses, and away I went. Was surprised how slow this was. Time moves quickly in transition.

So the run. I was only able to get up to 15 miles, and I knew this would be a crap shoot. I actually felt pretty good the first loop, ran with a buddy I made in the beginning, then I "surged" ahead. The wind was ridiculous on this loop--it was actually hard to run out b/c you were running into a strong headwind. One of the water stops tents even blew over!

Went around the loop and met two friends that were out running, and they ran the second loop with me. It was a great distraction, and they had gotten permission from the race director. Unfortunately I think it cost me a penalty (which I found out the next day I got!). Thats disappointing, b/c there were a ton of folks that had people running with them. In any case, to run 6 miles with some friends made it enjoyable, and I'll take it!!

I had a discussion with the boy scout stop about the Steelers and Redskins, chatted with the Terps running their stop about the football team, and felt pretty good, minus some pain in my achilles and knee. At one point I realized I was at 16 miles, and it was the farthest I had ran all year at that point. I was concerned not seeing any lights and the road was OPEN to traffic (hello, there is only 3 different races on one road, with us doing multiple loops!). I also didn't see any lights, and that greatly worried me.

On my third loop out I stopped to ask my tri team if anyone had a light, no one did, but a biker that was helping to sweep the course gave me his blinky light to put on my belt. On that way back it was miserable. Pitch black. The water stops had taken their cars and turned on their lights. You couldn't see a person running 5 feet in front of you, and you certainly couldn't discern any bumps in the road. And at this point it either drizzled or rained or was humid, then the bugs all came out! I had a glow necklace that I threw off only because the mosquitoes and moths were attracted to it. Allowed myself to walk a mile, from mile 24-25, and then ran in, past the unlit tiki torches (rain put them out), and had a glorious victory lap around the track, get a huge ovation from my tri team.

Thank god they were there, there isn't much of a finish! But b/c I had such a raucous group, I literally sailed around the track, much like I did back in 2007 at Placid. Through the finish when I saw my time, and was ecstatic--I had taken 70 minutes off my PR.

well, not run with my friends for any of the course if I knew it would cost me a penalty. However, I don't know what I got the penalty for (its not WTC so they don't hand you a card)...and it couldn't have been drafting (it was an empty course!). Its my first penalty in 13 years of triathlon. With such a low key race like this, and low number of participants, I think they partially were looking for reasons to give penalties out of boredom. Whatever the case, I'm still pleased and in my mind, since I wasn't ever told or made aware of the penalty till the next day, I'm keeping my PR 13:13.

Thank god for friends doing the aquavelo! they were bored I guess and got my bags and my bike, already in their cars! And for being so lowkey, I only had to walk about 1000 feet to my car, get my bag, and could walk another 500 feet to take a shower in the high school.

My main goal was to finish and get a mudslide from Snappers, one of my favorite Cambridge restaurants, before midnight. I was already in the car and heading out by 9:15---win! Thank god I was "fast" because they were closing at 10! We all got mudslides, I got a hamburger and fries that I actually ended up not eating, I wasn't that hungry for once! Hung out at our gorgeous house talking about the day and finally got to sleep at 1:00 am.


I think I did pretty darn well considering all the curveballs my body threw at me. as my good friend (who is such a good friend she lent me her wheels--thanks Kwed!) I gave my body the finger. :) I'm pretty proud that I can still knock out a decent race on limited training. I'll never be fast, but you'll also never see someone like me do the race with as big a smile.


Hard to rate this race. It is a LOW KEY event. I think best aimed at experienced triathletes. It is such a different experience than the IM events, very little cheering and not nearly as much offered to eat/drink. But it was also the most relaxed one I've done. It didn't even hit me it was an ironman distance until the morning of! I love that it was only 2 hours away, and of course, it was free for me. I would recommend only for folks that want the distance challenge and don't need the pomp and circumstance. I for one love all that, but I also love the Cambridge area.

I did NOT love the jellyfish!! :)