28:34 - 3 miles
This was run by my friend Kristi and she did awesome! She's a great partner. She's coming back after having to DNS most of her races last year after an injury. This was a well needed confidence boost for her and I'm really proud.

We worked it out in advance that our second runner would do the chip transfer. I got a spot right by the bike out, so the majority of this time is Kristi running through a tight transition area while others try to get on their bikes. I thought we did pretty good here.

This is my third time doing the course, so I knew where I could go fast or not. I screamed out of transition and felt like I passed 50 people before even leaving the park. The big hill is always hard, and even harder this year with the different bike and what feels like higher gearing. I had a headwind for about half the course with some gusty side winds. The only good wind was on the shortest portion of the route :( I had the best time in the female relay group! Woo-hoo! Can't ask for better than that.

My ONLY regret is that I didn't bring along a Gu or something. I had my usual good breakfast, but I could have used a little boost while I waited for our runner. I'm also sorry I couldn't show off my cute GWTC outfit. It was too cold for me, not running first, to wear it alone. But it was underneath another layer and I was glad to see how comfortable the shorts and top are.

Obviously we got better in transition :) I came in and got to my team very quickly, but our second runner had to run back out through transition. She basically had the exact reverse course of the first runner. This might also be easier second time because there are less bikes to fight through.

25:29 - 3 miles
Another AWESOME teammate, Carrie, pulled out a fantastic run. I couldn't be prouder of either friend. She has a great finishing kick and passed a few ladies on the way.

After I finished the bike, I took off all my bike stuff and put on another layer and shoes. It was still very overcast and cool at this point. I was glad to not be very sweaty. Then we ran to a point to cheer Carrie in the last stretch and ran again to cheer her at the finish. I had another girlfriend on a relay team, so we were able to cheer for her too.


I won't comment on Vacation Sports again, because they were up to their usual foolishness. OK - one comment: I was the person who submitted the registration, yet only Carrie and Kristi's names were on the timing information. Kristi was listed first so when Carrie finished, they called Kristi's name. Really dumb. We had a team name... But OF COURSE I am thrilled to have a medal that I really feel we earned. We could not have caught the first place team, but the other teams were all very close behind us. A little faltering and we wouldn't have managed 2nd, so I am really proud. I will cherish the medal since I can't imagine earning another one until I'm 70 and 1 of 3 in my AG at an event. We all had a superb race, which is always great in the early season.