Lisa did beautifully on the swim, and finished likely 5 minutes faster than I would have. She had entered the race as a soloist but then needed a runner and cyclist after her knee ellipsoid (sp?) issues flared-up in April. Having been off the bike for 6 weeks, she didn't want back on for a race. She was also concerned that her recent 3-mile runs would not get her through the race.

It felt like I'd ridden this course just the other day, but it was really several years ago... funny how geographic my memory can be!

I rode my old racing bike, the steel Bridgestone 700 because my Raleigh TT bike was in the shop for a broken rear derrailleur hanger. Lucky thing though -- the B-stone is much better geared for the hills, and the down-tube shifters, though old-school, are easier for me to use on the climbs and descents than the bar-end new bike's shifters. I loved riding the "old girl" again, and she was mechanically sound for me. Just a slightly too loose right cleat, which my shoe slipped out of a few times, but no big deal.



I would have chased and held pace with my chiro friend, Dr. Kate Kelly, who passed me with hoops and hollering at about mile 18. I played tag with her on the next few miles of hills, but eventually let her get a 30-second+ lead on me. I should have just pushed harder to "stay with" her.

Wow wow wow, my running cadence and speed was really good. When did I get so fast? What's happened to my usual 9:15 to 9:30 minutes per mile, and before that the 10-min miles?? I still train at those speeds, so how can I race so much faster? Crazy, but I love it!!