beach start. went out early and hard and got dropped, but practiced swimming in a big kicking pack for a little while (per plan). midway out to the first buoy saw the guy I knew on his kayak and said hi. tried to swim straight, didn't (this is my big OWS problem, I think). pushed nicely hard on the swim. happy with my effort, but not with my navigation.


swim straight. new theme. :(

the RDs got a sponsored deal with Scion for a hill challenge - fastest up the giant hill from the water to transition won something. it was NOT me. I ran until the hill got steep, then I walked. It was so steep that the back of my legs were overstretched and cramping. got to the top, did my thing, out on the bike.

had heard this was hilly. hadn't driven the course first, so I just stayed conservative (also, it rained off and on. wanted to keep myself ON the bike). feet were so wet I was surprised there weren't fish in my shoes. didn't have as much power as I normally do, legs were tired to start. really fun rolling course. would have been more fun if it was dry and I knew the course. but there were a billion volunteers, actually AHEAD of where you had to slow down so you could hear what they were saying and then slow down, instead of frantic braking when you were on top of them. what a concept. legs started cramping on the biggest hill.

legs were crampy, so I took a little extra time and dragged out the Stick. hugely helpful.

also known as the run that wasn't. my pre-race goal for this race was really to keep the effort dialed back on the swim and bike, and really focus on the run (my weakness). I had a really great run as part of a gym short tri on Thursday and I really wanted to run well.

the good: stopped at the portapotty (funny moment: volunteer is yelling left, left, left at me. I yell, pee, pee, pee at him. cracked us both up) and headed out. First half mile, felt (relatively) great. was running strong, everything felt good, pace was great. Noticed about the half mile mark that my heart rate was a little too high, so I slowed down a smidge.

the bad: Heart rate did not drop. Felt a tightness/pain in my chest, so I decided I should not be an idiot and walk for a few. boom! instant asthma attack. thank g*d I race with my inhaler in my trishorts. otherwise I would have ended up in the hospital. it took a couple tries to get albuterol into my lungs, then I just kind of slogged along sobbing until I could breathe. a couple of runners actually noticed that I was in trouble and asked if I needed help... very nice.

so I walked for a while until I could breath without any hitching. then I decided I should be cautious - I walked a little faster to see how my lungs would do, but every time I sped up at all I started wheezing.

so I walked. 2 and change miles. slowly. mile 2 was 17 minutes long. I was bored, and the bugs were biting, and people kept encouraging me as they went by (one lady said, ok, at the top of this hill you're running again. I said, yeah, asthma, but thanks). I spent half of the time feeling completely miserably sorry for myself. I got bug spray from volunteers at the next big intersection which helped a little.

then I got passed by a spectator in jeans and workboots, running with a friend. that hurt.

got back to the finish, which loops around transition. walked every step. as I passed the guy with the mike announcing finishers, he (quietly) said, you should at least run over the line. yeah, thanks buddy, can't. am wheezing just walking.

um, not much I could do. not get brochitis 12 years ago?

crossed the line, handed in my chip, burst into tears on AdCo's shoulder. didn't even hang out for the post race stuff as I felt like crap.

I'm still pissed, although there was exactly nothing I could have done differently aside of not racing. it was steamy and humid and there was a bit of mold/mildew in the air - my biggest asthma triggers.

so I guess I had 2/3rds of a great race, and then a long walk. but I'll do the race again, this was an amazingly well run race and a fun course.



asthma attack