This is a small tri put on by the local tri club. At the last two races, my AG has been the first to start. Just before psyching myself up, they announce the waves. I was prepared for starting first, but found out I'd be in the last wave. Hung out for an hour+ cheering on friendis in prior waves. Once we started out swim, I just swam. No problems, no worries. Lost track of where I was with respect to distance, but tried to stay strong.

I probably should have pushed it a bit more. A couple of my friends in the lap lane over finished in just about the same time and I think I'm a stronger swimmer than they are. No biggie.

No issues. Got to the mount line at the same time a friend I introduced to tris. She almost fell over and I asked her if she was okay. She said yes and I let her go first.

If I were a killer, I'd probably just clip in and go. Screw her. But that didn't seem to be the point in today's race.

I'm better at hilly courses than flat ones, but I decided that this was a flat course and I was going to test my fitness. My girlfriend (who I let go first out of T1) took off like a bat out of hell and I let her go a bit. She is super competitive and I've ridden with her enough to know that I've had to pull her ass on several of our bike rides. Kept her in sight, but tried to take it easy in what I later learned was a bit of a headwind. 1/3rd of the way into the course I caught and passed her. We then went up a hill (my strength) to a turn around and I knew she woudn't pass me back on the bike. Just tried to hammer it home with the tail wind. Since I'm a "strong" climber, on this flat course, I'd just hammer it for a while (25-30 revolutions) and then back off. I biked harder this leg than I ever have in my life. At times I was worried about my run, but then I thought, "Who cares? This is so not my 'A' race.

Another tri girlfriend passed me about 1/2 mile from the end of the bike leg, but this was totally expected. She's a great biker. As she passed me, I asked her what took her so long. No worries.

My bike average was about 18.7 which was the fastest bike split I've ever done in my life. Thanks, bike challenge.

If this were my 'A' race, I might not have asked my friend if she was okay and let her go first out of T1.

Nothing much to report. As I was bending over to put on my running shoes, I got a cramp in my upper abdomen. Strange. Went away when I stood up. Took off helmet and shoes, put on running shoes, grabbed race belt and hat and went.

Nothing.

Both of my friends and I essentially exited T2 together. The competitive one (the one I let go first at T1) is a runner. We were together for about the first 50 yards and then I just pulled away. Kept my run fast but in control. It was sooo much fun. We ran through a subdivision and a family with young kids were out there with a hose and asked if I wanted to be sprayed down. I said sure, and thanked the 2 YO Batman and 3 YO Spiderman boys who were cheering us on. Since it was a small race, and we were in the last wave, there weren't too many runners on the course to track down. Didn't drink but did pour water over my head/down my top when I had the chance.

At about a mile and a half into it, I had just passed a male runner from an earlier wave and then jumped into a 'sprinkler of opportunity' in this subdivision. The young guy yells to me that he has water if I need it. I thought that was very sweet so I dropped back a little and squirted some of his water over my head. I think he needed a pacer.

From prior experience, I know that the #1 in my AG is tens of minutes ahead of me. No way I could catch her (but if I did see a pig flying over my head, I'd drop young guy in a nanosecond), so I just settled in to push the pace for him. I'd dropped my girlfriends a long way back, and frankly, they didn't look very good. I felt fantastic.

Had to pull in front of my new friend at the last stretch and I finished strong. Felt great.

Nothing.

Got some water and waited for all of my girlfriends to finish.


This race was huge fun, and one that I think the original creators of the triathlon would have been proud of. Since it was a local, small race, we've all raced against each other for 4-8 races. I think we all just encouraged each other and cheered each other strengths and exploited each others' weaknesses. Pre-race we cheered oun the various Mermen racing and we had a great time. Since this wasn't anybody's 'A' race, it was just about having fun. And we did.

I also had the great good fortune to met a fellow BTer, mnewton. What a charming man who had a good race sporting his Javelin gear. His wife wasn't there (she's due in Sep so I hope she was in the AC with her feet up). The one or two of you who read this, if you come to River Cities in August, you'll get a chance to meet him as well. Great race, mnewton!

Final note. Took second in my AG. I was 7 minutes behind #1 so there is no way I could have caught her (she is wicked fast), but my new found bike fitness helped me with a fantastic run. I was 5 minutes ahead of my next nearest competitor (the runner) and I beat both my SIL and her husband by 11 minutes and 5 minutes, respectively.

Thanks for reading.