Bristol, New Hampshire United States Endorfun Sports 55F / 13C Precipitation

Total Time = 2h 34m 41s Overall Rank = 77/574 Age Group = M35-39 Age Group Rank = 12/59

Hee hee... long story...
I got up at 4:15 for drive to Newfound Lake. The rain was falling, as well as my spirits. It's been an awful week at work, training wise, and other ways... I was an idiot and rode for 2.5 hours last weekend without a shirt. I FRIED my back, and haven't been able to run to work per usual because my backpack rubbed on my sunburn, and made it too painful to run. I haven't been able to get onto my bike etc... It’s one thing to taper... But this week has been ridiculous.
Anyway, we got on the road this AM at a reasonable time, but Mrs. had some GI problems, and we had to stop for a bathroom break. It ended up getting so bad, she had to call it quits on the day and get a ride back home. We both felt awful about it, but it was probably the best solution given the situation. Got to Wellington OK, parked, and got the registration. The check-in process with smooth, and went pretty quickly. It was a little congested getting to the body-marking area, but then right into the transition area. On my way into the transition area, I was asked to put my number on my bike. I fished through my goody-bag, and found the number after putting my timing chip into my shorts pocket. I found my bike rack with the corresponding group of numbers, and found an empty spot. I got just about 90% set up when someone came by and asked where he should be putting his bike. Turns out, Endorfun not only specifies your rack, but specifies your spot on each rack! I didn’t even notice the numbers pasted on the rack until this other guy pointed them out. Duh! I apologized several times, and moved about twenty feet down to my assigned spot. Got set up again, but was a little thrown off, as the pre-race meeting had begun, and the national anthem etc…We all walked and I swam some of the 1/3 of a mile or so (?) to the starting point and got ready. We watched the elites go, and then it was my wave’s turn. As people starting moving into the starting gate, they were beeping going across the mat. It was then I realized…with all the moving around, I Forgot to put on my freaking timing chip!!!! Crap! I turned back toward the transition area and started running back. About 200 yards up the beach, I heard my wave start… Thought of packing my bags up and going home… *$&^*$^&^!!!&^^$^$!!!%#^*$&*$!!! Kept running back to T1, and heard another wave leave… found my bike, and searched for my chip…. Oh yeah... I put it in my pocket shorts when I put the number on my bike while walking in!!!! I grabbed the chip- strapped in on my ankle, and ran back to the start. I got back just as the VERY last wave was lining up. I approached the woman at the gate, and explained I had missed my wave because I forgot my chip. She said, “We have extras for that, you know...” oops…I’m an idiot times 2! Fortunately, she was incredibly accommodating, and said she would get me into that last wave, and adjust my time accordingly. ***Thank you – whoever you are!!!!**** I had a minute to catch my breath a little, and we were off!!!

Warmup included swimming to start, and then run to T1 and back! A little more than planned!