Hello fellow and soon-to-be triathletes!
For those of you who are doing this race for the first time, have fun.. This is a really mellow, laid-back race that has all levels of ability. Reverse sprints are great for building your cardio and developing an early pacing to your racing. You can also learn new tricks at every one of these races that involves the all-important transition area. If you "hog" up too much in transition, believe me, you will know about it. I've done this race for several years now and just enjoy it more and more every year. It's close to home for me, doesn't require as much training time, except for my swimming. For those who know me, know what I mean when without my sleeveless wetsuit or my pull buoy, I move VERY slowly in the water....
I started with reverse sprints in 2006, and tried out several local races in Hemet, Temecula, San Dimas, Loma Linda, La Quinta, Long Beach is another good one on LB State campus, and UC Irvine. Also did a few with Danskin. There is one in Fountain Vally on Memorial Day weekend too. I will be trying this one out as it looks like it will be fun. Check it out at http://fvtriathlon.com/.
I will be at this race in my Ironman Arizona jersey as I am allowed the bragging rights. I started right where all you newbies are starting. It's a life-changing sport and if after a few races you aren't hooked, you soon will be if you really want to do them. After the 2009 ROB race, I was hanging around transition talking with a young lady who was asking questions about longer distance tris. While talking with her, her hubby came up to join in. He stood there listening to our conversation, with this "don't I know you?" look on his face. While discussing my first half IM race, Vineman, 70.3 in 2007, her hubby chimed in. He said he remembered me because he did the same race; it was hot on the run and affecting a number of runners that day. He too, was struggling on the run and remembered me running by him, offering words of encouragement to "hang in there and keep going". I was so excited that day, hooting and hollering to lots of people. Wearing my OC Tri jersey, I couldn't help giving the LA Tri people a bad time and booing at them.. It was all in fun. I cried when I crossed the finish line with a time of 8:20. I didn't care what my finishing time was.. I did it and that was all that counted..
It was very humbling for me to have a total stranger look at me, remember me almost 2 years later and thank me for those few words of encouragement. Have fun, and encourage those who are struggling. I had that returned to me while participating in Ironman Arizona in 2009. Someone I "met" on BT, offered words of encouragement during a period of fatigue and just plain butt-dragging at about mile 21 of the run. I kept moving... Watching Rudy Garcia-Tolsen sprint by me at mile 25, was inspirational.. I finished in 16:20:05 to the sounds of YMCA, people banging on the banners hanging in the finish line chute and cheering on a complete stranger, and high-fiving Mike Reilly just before crossing the finish.. It's what this sport is all about.. And all of you can do the same...
If you see me on Saturday, feel free to come up and say hi. I like talking to anybody... Hope you all have an enjoyable race..
Lori.. Improvise, Overcome, Adapt... Heartbreak Ridge...........