Super Saturday

Super job. Maybe its just me but I would take a sore knee and a slow run time over homework anyday. Keep up the great work.

Joe

OK, here goes the story from my end.  I was in the final wave of the day (the Geritol group).  We are off.  I figure I want to try to get to the front to avoid the Mixmaster blender of arms and legs in the water, so I blast out as if fired from a gun.  At the first bouy I am out in front of the entire group.  But I've gone anaerobic and have to slow down.  A couple swimmers catch me and I'm in the blender!  I roll over and swim backstroke, which was my event on the high school swim team (40 years ago!) and I continue this for the remainder of the swim (probably 75% of the 1/4 mile distance).  I can keep pace with everyone doing backstroke, but occasionally get a bit off course since there are no ceiling markers to follow!  Finally the end, I'm a bit woozy getting out of the water, but I struggle up the beach, having a bit of trouble unzipping the wetsuit, until I find that I haven't un-done the velcro, then it comes off to my waist.  It takes another minute to remove the rest, I get on the bike and start my usual hammering.  10 miles, on the aero bars and I start passing people.  There are about 850 in front of me because of the wave start, and in the next 10 miles I pass over 100 of them at least.  No one goes by me...WOO HOO!  Finish the bike, pretty tired, but averaging 22 mph for the 10 miles.  Start running.  For once my legs don't feel like lead, instead I settle into a steady 8:20 per mile pace.  Half way through the run I pass "Team Ellen".  I had been looking for her all the way through the bike ride and thought I went by her and missed seeing her.  But no here she is, a testament to how good a bike ride she had!  Way to go Ellen!  I hit the water station and grab a cup.  Oh joy!  My mouth has been feeling like the Russian Army marched through it wearing wool socks, I am so dehydrated!  I chug a cup and plod on, holding a steady pace to the finish.  Wow, my first TRUE triathlon is in the bag...all the races to this point have been Duathlons.  We hang around for the festivities...I get 2nd place in the 50-59 age group for first timers with a time of around 1:15 which was just about what I'd hoped for.  I need to cut down my transitions a bit to save perhaps 2 minutes, maybe pick up 2 more minutes on the run, and 1 more on the swim so that I can get my Fall Hyannis Triathlon time on the same course down to around 1:10, plenty of work to do over the summer.  Pictures to come tonite after I get them out of the camera and loaded to my album.

Thanks to Ellen, Mike and family for putting me up overnight.  Today I'm off to Connecticut to visit Evelyn and run in the 7 mile Litchfield Hills road race.

Max

Max and Ellen-- Hoo Baby! You two did an awesome job. I am envious of your great race. I hope to hobble through mine in 2 weeks.

I am inspired by you.

Sheesh, such humility Ellen.  I didn't pass ya till near the end cuz you was SMOKIN' up the course!  Pass you in the water?  You would have had to swim to the Vineyard for that to happen! 

I'm sending in my registration for the Hyannis II race, I enjoyed the first one so much!

Max

Max and Ellen -- great race stories.  Thanks for sharing them.

When is Hyannis 2?  I'm tempted.....