Hickory Knob InternationalTriathlon - TriathlonOlympic

My swim is faster than this. There is a quarter-mile adventure to get from the lake to the transition area. I just cruised on the first 600m. That was my warm up. I didn't find anyone to draft, so I just went nicely all by myself. The Beach Boys "Don't Worry Baby" was playing in my head during the swim. WTH? I don't even own any Beach Boys stuff! Caught up with the men just past the first turn. Made it through them without issue. Picked up the pace during the last 600m and went to bi-lateral breathing. I had some serious waves coming in to the beach. They went completely over my head so it was nice to breath each side. I didn't drink the lake that way. Got into the novice wave of the sprint race in the last 200m. Had to dodge a lot of breaststrokers. Luckily, no one landed their kick in my face. After getting out of the lake and starting the obstacle course to transition, my friend Christina passes me and says "thanks for the draft!" I smiled and didn't rush for fear of tripping and falling cuz I knew I had her on the bike. They had two volunteers hoist us over a 2 foot ravine, then we ran up a sidewalk, up cement steps, across a road and finally made it to the transition area.

Nothing. I just cruise the swim. I don't think it's worth the extra effort at this time to try to go faster. I would gain only seconds. Not gonna help me out much.

I really need to find out the best way to get my wetsuit off. I spent so much time hopping up and down trying to get it off my ankles. This is only my third race with it and I know speed will come with practice.

Get my wetsuit off faster.

I love the bike. I get downright giddy when I ride. I put the 11/23 cassette on my Zipp 404's. I like the 11/23 better than the 12/27. I don't why, but I do. And this is a pretty hilly course, but no steep climbs. So I just rode fast and comfortable. I passed and passed and passed at the start because I was in the middle of not only the international racers, but also the sprint distance peeps. Had a close call with a van that pulled out in front of me and two others. The guy closest to the van actually hit the side of it with his fist and yelled at the driver. The van pulled off the side of the road and I put the hammer down because I just wanted to get away from all the congestion. I rode a hard, aggressive pace until I passed the sprint distance turn-around then I relaxed a bit and settled into a good rhythm. I stayed aero for the most part. On one pretty long hill, I sat up and just spun. I passed a guy on a beautiful Orbea with a full disc in the back. He was in aero and huffing and puffing with a low cadence. I'm usually a gear masher, but compared to him, I felt like Lance Armstrong! He came around me on a short descent and we cat and moused quite a bit until the next climb when I passed him and he didn't come around me again. I got passed by three guys on the ride. That was it. Well. One female collegiate came around me as we were entering the park, but I passed her back on a climb and held her off until we arrived in T2.

Not carry a bottle on my downtube. I didn't even finish my aerobottle. Just added weight and drag sitting there on my frame.

I ran passed my rack and had to back up. Other than that, uneventful T2.

Not pass my rack. I hadn't raced since June so I guess I was a bit rusty:)

My biggest worry going into this race was the fact that I hadn't done any bricks. When I came out of T2, I ran out with Orbea guy. He looked at me and then paused. I mean actually stopped for a second on the road. He said "You are fast!" This made my millenium. I was really happy with his compliment. He was 27 years old and tall and lean. I started running well and immediately passed a guy. I felt really good. I was smiling. My hip did not hurt. Not one teensy-eensy bit. I was chugging along in my happy place. I see Orbea guy coming into view again. He is grabbing his side and clearly in pain. I run up beside him and tell him to relax and breathe out forcefully. "Don't worry, it will release, just blow". He tells me he really is a godd runner. I tell him I figured that because he has that runner-look about him. He said he did a 43 minute 10K just 2 weeks ago. I told him my PR was 51 and change. He smiles and says he's feeling better. I say "Run a great 5K and you'll be back in business". He takes off with a beautiful stride and is on his way. And I'm at mile 4 and still having fun. I shuffle up the big hill to the little spur of road that our turn-around is on. I see my friend Brad and cheer him on. Next I see my coach and shout out to her. I can tell she is surprised to see me. I pass a couple of people. That makes three for this run so far. I jog around the turn cone and can't believe I'm halfway there. This is a slight downhill on the course and I take full advantage of it and turn my legs over faster. I try to really go on the big downhill, but start getting a sidestitch. I realize I'm holding my breath. That's the swimmer in me trying to push it. I correct myself and breath heavily and often. No more sidestitch! I pass two more people. I cannot express how happy I am out here running. The weather is glorious. A little breeze, mainly overcast with the sun peaking out every now and then. We run past a golf course. The trees are starting to change color. Life is good. Morrissey's "Girl Least Likely To" is playing in my head. Some of the words to that song go "So I sit and I smile and I say well done to the girl least likely to" That is me. Not a runner, but here I am, firmly in with the collegiates who's wave started 6 minutes before mine. I feel great. The last hill is tiring, but still I run. When I crest it, I give everything I have left and run as fast as possible on the flat area to the finish.

Run faster, of course. The only times I felt stressed and gaspy were running up the steep hills. I believe the key to me running fast is to stay relaxed and calm. When I hurt and my HR goes up, I get tense and actually slow down. I still haven't quite figured out the happy medium between pushing myself to the limit and staying relaxed. But this is a PR for me for a 10K. It even beat my stand-alone PR. I still can't believe it because I felt so good and not in distress. I really can't believe it!

I walked, did a couple of quick stretches then found the port'o'pot quickly. I didn't drink at all on the run and I only drank half my aerobottle on the bike, but I must have been well-hydrated, cuz I had to go!!


Not as much run miles as I would have liked coming into this race. My bike fitness saved me.


I had no expectations for this race. I was incredibly happy to be healthy enough to participate. I had fun! Lots and lots of fun! I really missed racing while I was healing and I just enjoy the experience so much. I love being able to talk and joke with other athletes, I love hanging out at the awards presentation with my friends. It makes all the training so worth it. I am hopelessly addicted. This was my last triathlon of the season. I was 3rd overall female and first in my age group. I'd say I went out with a Bang!