Race report

I really wanted to get the girls to the park but they just begged to watch a boy band show. So I figured I would bang out the race report.

I was very nervous for this race. I know why and it was merely b/c I knew many other women doing it and I wanted to do well. I am big into comparing how I do to others and I realize that is not why I do these races, so I had to get my mind in the right place. Saturday night I packed my bag up (used the new bag I bought at the NYC tri expo - b/c hubby did the tri) the bag rocks - it is a TYR bag. Packing my bag was quite easy and that made me nervous ?? However this is my 5th tri so I think I am finally getting the hang of it. Went to sleep early only to be woken by a very unhappy 3 year old at about 11pm.....bellowed for hubby to help out. She continued to scream til 12.30am, that was great fun. Back to sleep and up at 4.30am. I was concerned about eating too early so i waited till a bit after 5am and eat my oatmeal and fruit then. We had a sitter so hubby was coming with to watch, take photos and support and cheer.

We got there just when the sun was coming up and it was quite beautiful. Racked my bike pretty easily and laid out my stuff, but kept rearranging and forgetting stuff. Hubby is not allowed in the transition area so once i was done he was kind enough to wait on the port o potty line with me. Went back to my bike and fiddle and faddled and was ready to head to the beach.

My wave was set to go off at 7.16, i don't believe we went off till after 7.30. This was an all female race, and it was very supportive of first timers. There were so many swim angels and kayaks that i was actually scared that i would hit someone while swimming. I went off and got myself in the water a bit. A good friend gave me the advice of getting in the water so i did not have the shock factor when i start the swim. Finally after much waiting and chit chat w others and my forehead starting to ache from the swim cap we were off in the water. I think my wave had about 100 to 200 people. I tried to be out in the front. The waves were quite serious but i was not concerned, i just dove in and started swimming. However, i should have been concerned with all the people. I was hitting people left and right. I had to stop and go around people it was so darn crowded. I was feeling ok until around the buoy and then I got tired and had to resort to breast stroke DAMN. I hate that, it plays with my head and I stop and get out of the rhythm. Started swimming again didn't think i would take the hand of the million lifeguards helping out b/c i didn't need it, but then i was like who cares this will help and i let 2 hands help me up and out. One of my goals was to RUN from the swim to the bike. I did, not fast but I ran.

Swim time 7.40 for 300 yards which includes the run from water to transition. Rank 328/860.

Thoughts - i need to stop resorting to breast stroke and just swim faster. I know I can I just still get bambuzzled in the water. I felt good that i was able to sprint out at the start and get away from the crowd a bit and i overall feel good in the water.

transition 1 - man there is a lot to do, shirt on, glasses, helmut, dry feet, socks bike shoes...race number....how the hell does one go faster.....i also went down the wrong rack for my bike and hubby got a photo of me with my hands gesturing - where the hell is my bike ?????

t1 - 3.00 rank 234 - oh well it is what it is

bike - so i get on my bike and i ride and i am passing folks left and right. i am passing them b/c they are on mountain bikes and i am thinking lord they are brave folks. I try to push harder and not get slow to drink or b/c we are turning. I did feel i pushed harder then last time BUT I still feel like I could have given more. Tried to not drink as much b/c that slows me down ...need to figure out how to drink/eat without slowing me down. The biggest problem i had was at the end I usually click out with my left foot first, i did my right first then I tried to do my left but when my left foot was up and not down and i cramped a bit in my groin and now i have a major sore muscle. Anyway that sucked.

bike -37.35 (16.8mph) - 10.5 miles - rank 186 - thoughts - i really feel i should be at 17mph or higher NO MATTER what. I am concerned that some mountain/hybrids might have better mph than me.

T2 - ok, my tummy was not feeling GREAT on the bike and i was not looking forward to the run. So I knew I was going to take my time in the transition and i did !!! and hubby was watching and he was saying what are you doing ?????? move it.

T2 - 1.48 rank 480- obviously i can improve on this. i literally stop and thought this is nice i am just going to hang out here and dawdle.

run - i was not looking forward to it but my tummy felt fine and i was back in the game. As we started our run there were folks already finishing and that is one hard to pill to swallow. the staggered waves. I know the run, I know where the turn around is and all that so my mind doesn't have to wonder how far and such. I tried to just stay strong. I was passing many people from waves that went before me, they were walking or running very slow. One lady from my tri group who i am always faster than in the swim and bike passed me, she runs FAST and i saw her fly by me and that damn how does she do it. I just kept running. I stopped for water. Once I got to the turn around I tried to get my head in the game and wanted to start pushing myself and fight till the end. I passed a tri group lady and she was walking i told her to move it. she said it helped her. I finally saw hubby and that made me try to run faster, I kept pushing. As I got closer to the finish I passed a woman from my wave, then right before the finish she passed me and i just could NOT let it happend - i was pissed and sprinted past her. I am not sure why i was so pissed. either way i beat her and maybe we pushed each other. I just wonder why i have so much left to sprint and yet i can not push harder earlier ??

run - 3 miles run - 28.13 (9.25min/mile) - rank 237

thoughts - run faster plain and simple, just do it, you can.

overall time 1.18.14

overall place 174

age group place 40 out of 205

overall thoughts. happy, but as usual feel i can do better. there is a race on the same course on saturday and i think i am going to do it. why not. i just am glad to have splits to look at. last time i did the course in july my time was 1.22 but they did not give splits. so i did better, but i wonder where ???