St. Anthony's Triathlon - Triathlon

Swim canceled due to inability to keep buoys in place and could not get kayaks onto the course. Also due to 2006 fiasco when they did not call the swim and it turned into a PR nightmare. Disappointing. I really wanted to see how much I could improve here after working so hard in masters

Swim

Time trial start. They kept the same waves and we had toline up by race number. It was actually WAY less of a mess than I thought it would be. Your race started when you ran across the mat into T1. I had my helmet and glasses on. I just ran across the transition area to my primo rack spot, dropped my flip flops grabbed my bike and went. Shoes were on the bike already.

nada

I ran into transition and threw my flops down and grabbed my bike. I had a primo rack spot about 10 feet from the exit. Hit the bike computer to start it. Ran to the mount line and jumped on. I did not not have my most stellar effort getting my feet in my shoes but it was OK. My bike computer decided it was not going to work. FABULOUS. On top of being thrown by the whole group brick workout now I had no bike computer. It worked FINE on saturday. AARRGGHH. I guess I am fortunate I train by PRE most of the time but I really depend on the bike computer.

The first few hundred yards its cobblestones and bumpy. My podium quest is really on its last legs and I got a nice accelerade bath even tho I was trying to keep my had over it to keep from losing all of it. Turned off the pavement and the Graves clan and my parents were in primo race watching position. Waved to the crew. I felt like I was flying, but once again no bike computer. I cornered well. Fortunately this is my 5th time racing this course so I had an idea of how far I had gone etc. At the 5 mile mark my watch time was 14:something so a tad over 20 MPH pretty good for me.It was quite windy obviously as the swim was canceled due to wind. One good thing about the course is there are so many turns the way the wind affects you is constantly changing.

There were a couple women who were clearly using me as a target. I would pass and they would pass back. One of them was riding in a compeltely b*tchy way and would pass me a block me and slow down. It was totally annoying. She probably blocked me for about 5 miles of the race. It was so strange because everyone in your age group was around you because of the time trial start and it was super congested. I rode as legal/non drafting as I could and still be safe. Honestly what difference did it make if you got a drafting penalty as it was not a race that would count for anything anyway. Some of the crosswinds were dicey on the turns.

At 10 miles I was at 30 minutes and change so I lost a little bit of time. At 15 I was 45 and change, 20 miles 1:00:something. More leap frogging. Thing is the 2 girls who picked me as their rabbit....we were all the same age group but they had lower # than me bay 100 spots or more so I beat them all anyway because I started behind them teeheehee. And I totally outsprinted that TNT b*tch into transition.

I had to pee the whole time. Could not pee on my bike. Probably for the best with a white bike seat anyway. Was trying to figure out new time goals etc and decided if I could go sub 2:30 that would have equated sub 3 hours most likely. Came down the home stretch and saw my folks and the Graves clan again. Waved and smiled pretty. Feet out of shoes, across the cobble stones and into T2.

Have a working bike computer. Even if I had known it was not working I could not have done anything about it. Sensor needed a new battery and I don't carry a spare. I was a few seconds faster than last year but thee was heavy wind this year and none last year. I'm good with it.

Did I mention I had to pee? Came into transition and ran a little. I REALLY wanted sub 1:15 and just managed to scrape that out. Got to my rack and just sat down to clean my feet off for shoes and socks. I am socks. I need socks. My feet suck and I will blister without socks. Yep I peed sitting in the grass in transition as I changed into my running stuff. Would have been faster if my bladder had not been so full but at least I didn't have to join the yellow socks brigade. 3 hoorahs for black tri shorts!!

Not have to pee so bad.

Felt pretty good coming out of transition. I had a bottle of electrolyte fluids with me. I drank from it for the first mile and threw it off. I did the first mile in 10:30 with a 1 minute walk break It was deceptively cool due to the ocean breeze. Next 1/2 mile was also deceptively cool in some shade. Then you entered the sauna. I was under 22 minutes to mile 2.....good for me. Made it to the turn around in 33 and change and decided to go to a 4:1 run:walk. Saw about everyone who was still on the course. Did well with water and gatorade. Got a little crampy at the 4 mile mark. My feet were sore as was my hamstring but nothing huge. Took my last walk break and ran in the last 1/2 mile or so. Was trying to go sub 2:30. Picked it up to the fastest pace my legs would give me. I had my pink Susan G Komen bracelet on for Terri and as I was trying to pick it up was thinking about her and Christine and almost started crying. I have enough running troubles and its really hard to run while crying. Tried to finish strong for them both. Took a while to catch my breath when I was done.

Even tho that is a crappy time in the grander scheme of running it was a PR on that course for me by 4 minutes so I can't complain. I'm not a runner and thats all there is to it. I work hard at it and do my best thats all I can do.

Got a cool towel and some fluids and found my family. Collected my stuff and went home.


Bad genetics and biomechanics. My legs are pretty sore today so I know I gave it a good effort. No regrets


Its a nice race. Shame about the swim. Recent events make it all seem really unimportant. Its a hobby. I do it for fun and fitness. I try best everytime. My best is not typically fast but it doesn't matter in the grander scheme of life. I'm at peace with my slowness and content to try my best everytime.