Hyannis, Massachusetts United States Time Out Productions 72F / 22C Sunny

Total Time = 1h 18m Overall Rank = 265/671 Age Group = 35-40 Age Group Rank = 32/65

Ok, this is your warning, this pre race is long winded. Got out of work at 3. Drove home, finished loading the car and picking up the family. On the road by 1/4 of 4. Hit a little traffic. Got to race checkin at around 6. Went to find the hotel and a place to eat. Found the hotel first and checked in. Went to a hotel recomended place to eat called Mollys in W. Yarmouth.

This is where things went to pot. Got seated around 6:45. Waitress noticed our discount coupon for $3 off each adult meal. Took our drink order and came back. Around 7:10 our orders had not been taken. Went to Host and said we were leaving. He assured me our orders would be taken and we would be taken care of very well. We stayed. Big mistake. Kids dinners, our soups and salads came quicky. Around 7:35 we started to wait again for dinner. The kids were finished and ours was not on the table. 7:45 got ours to go. We the bill came it did not even have our discout. The Host took $6 out of his wallet to make good. I was very disapointed. When you have that many problems you would think there would be an honest attempt to satisfy the customer. NONE!!! I will not go back there again.

After dinner an improtu visit to the local Chrismas Tree shop was in order. We had them in our hands, but did not pack shovels and pails for the kids at the beach. So we looked in vain for some at the store. As a last ditch effort, 4 wooden spoons and 3 plastic food containers with lids would have to do. Also picked up an aluminum roasting pan to wash my feet in transition. Never have had to worry about that, but with this much of a beach run I wanted to be sure.

Got the kids back to the room and unpacked. Got the kids to bed and went out to view the course in the dark at 8:30. This actualy was ok, because the signs had been set up so I could follow the course better. Nothing major except a bumpy section about 4 miles into the bike. Stopped at a local convience store to "unload" extra cash burning a hole in my pocket. Picked up silverwhere for my leftovers, juice for the kids and cream cheese for our baggles.

Went back to the holel around 9:30 and started to put nubers on and make the final check of my race gear. Glad I brought the big bike pump. Tires down around 40 again. Set the alarm for 5 AM and sat down to eat my cold shirmp scampi from supper. Of course, I found the missing silverwere from Mollies at the bottom of the bag. Had nothing to drink so I went to the soda machine. Got my wife a soda, and had to settle for one myself. Wanted iced tea and 3 machines were out. To add insult to injury, I noticed the local small airfield was just down the steet. Herd the plans landing for hours.

Got back to the room again, and just started to laugh. I felt like Cousin Vinnie, just tring to get ready with everything going "wrong" around me. Could not sleep, so I took a shower and shaved, the final "prerace" stuff I like to do before going to bed. Finally crawled into bed around 3 hours late at 12:00. Slept OK, only getting up a couple of times. Woke up quickly with the alarm and started to pack the car.

Carried the kids into the car, still in there PJ's., and headed for the race. Got there just before 6. Main free lot was full, so I paid the $15 to park in a lot closer to the transition area. This turned out well, so my wife did not have to lug the kids too much. Said good by to the family and went to set up.

Got racked and laid out my area. Help some newbies rack and adjusted position of some bikes to make more room on adjasent racks. Realized after the race a few people had racked in the wrong places. Oh well did not effect me. Chatted with a few Trifurians and just kind of hung out.

Went to the swim start and took one last oppertunity to wave to the kids. They were oblivious of my presance. My son was in my wifes lap crying. Turns out he kept going deeper in to the water and fell, getting him all wet. Then he fell getting all sandy. For a little boy he likes to be very clean. My daughter was busy cleaning the beach of all seashells. Had a spectator get there attention so I could wave. This just set off my son again because he was looking directly into the sun to see me. Felt like Cousin Vinnie again. Went to the wave area and just finished getting ready.


Enough said.