And on this day, we raced!
I missed BikerHen at today's race - I just didn't see you, and then got sidetracked. :( There will be a next time!
On to the Valley Girl (sprint) report....
I noted on the calendar last year when I registered for this race (possibly much earlier) that it was only two weeks after Ironman; usually it falls 1 week later, a precious week in recovery terms. I knew that meant it wasn't going to be my best and that it would test my recovery. That's about spot on to how it felt. But all the parts inbetween? Fun.
Late last week the pre-race email arrived: due to the cold water, the swim would be shortened to 1/4 mile (it's not a USAT race). Water temp? Upper 60s. Coming from Ironman to this race is always such a huge transition, not just the distances but the perspective. Lots of women do their first race here, that's part of what I love about it. To see it shortened further made me a little sad, but I guess it just gets me on my bike faster. ;)
Packet pick-up on Saturday was super quick and uneventful. So much less a production than Ironman, too. Packet, check. Chip, check. Tshirt, check. :) Put chip on ankle. Put number on bike and race belt. No complicated bags, stickers, or thinking required. I accidentally left my heart monitor at work and debated going to get it, it helps me stay in the zone. Instead, I got out my tri suit - the smell of sunblock permanently affixed to my suit flashed every race back into my head - and packed my bag for the morning.
Up at 6, 25% "go back to sleep" 75% "but we're racing today." Half a PBJ down. Suit on. Sunblock on. Helmet on. Lucy got her number on. We rode down to the transition area. Lonely. Usually my husband volunteers on his kayak, but he's in LA. I've started races by myself before, but he's been there for so many finishes. I racked Lucy, set out my stuff, and stood nearby because as a first-timers race, there's always confusion about racking bikes. I debated about wearing my wetsuit, so I went down and put my toes in the water - dear water, why were you not this warm 2 weeks ago? I decided to wear it anyway, it's sleeveless and relatively easy to get off. And then I sat in the water and waited for my wave.
I was honestly feeling a little down about this race up to the point I put my toes in the water at the start line, mostly because I didn't know I was ready to invest myself into the race mentality again so soon. When the countdown began, I knew I'd be fine. Awesome swim to the first buoy, felt like I was in front (I believe I was). Turn to the 2nd buoy that I messed up last year went well, but the current was pulling me in so I had to correct. Turn to the finish, still no purple caps, but the current was pulling me and the sighting was difficult so I had to correct a few times, cost me a few seconds. I could see the finish, probably 30 seconds away, when someone passed me. I was out of the water 3rd, 10 seconds off first. NEXT TIME: remember the drifting - it's always the same. Otherwise, pretty good!
Argued with wetsuit in transition a bit. Maybe some people got out before me, but I don't usually sweat that. Onto my bike, motoring past people. Played rabbit with a couple of people, then left them behind. Dropped my water bottle before I got to drink any of it. :P Ate part of a gel serving at mile 6ish and finish. I know this bike course well, that works to my advantage, but boy was it competitive this year. More tri bikes, more fast cyclists, and later I learned that the woman I've raced against repeatedly was also out there, just ahead of me. ;) I definitely got passed at least once or twice, and I started to feel creaky in the hips and big leg muscles, as I expected. I knew the run was going to be rough. 7th fastest bike time, just 90 seconds off 1st. NEXT TIME: don't drop your water. ;) Not much else I could have changed. Maybe my heart monitor, I might have zoned once or twice.
Back at transition, I fumbled with my FiveFingers a bit (first time putting them on at ludicrous speed), otherwise smooth. There were very few bikes in the racks, so I knew I was still fairly competitive. Right at the start, someone passed me as I took water (thanks to not having any on the bike). The first mile was the usual grueling triathlon first mile, complicated by the fact that my legs were cranky. The finish is also UPHILL from transition, so the entire run is uphill or flat. I started to feel okay at mile marker 1 during a flat section, turned up the heat. I didn't get passed by people all at once, just occasionally. Mile 2-3 is almost all uphill. Ugh. Right at the finish, maybe 1/4 mile out, it's gloriously flat, and you can finish all out. Great cheering at the finish line, as usual. :D It felt good to finish. I love you, triathlon. Finished 15th AG, 8 min off 1st and 3 min off 5th. NEXT TIME: drink on bike like planned. Better Ironman recovery after better Ironman training. Stretch out shoes by wearing them the day before. Probably the heart monitor thing again to keep me pushing.
Still missing my spouse, I understood why people enjoy tri clubs so much. ;) I appreciate the cheering I got from the people who did know me, it helped. I checked my times on the cool timing display (iPads that let you check your times instantly), then checked the overall/AG results. My age group and the one directly following are very competitive. Maybe I should have raced Athena, I'd have been 1st or 2nd. ;) It's not about the medal, and I'm too close to the fence to consistently be Athena anymore - I'd rather give others the opportunity. Free pizza, but no raffle anymore. :(
I'm a natural multi-tasker. My day job is a mishmash of brainstorming, answering questions, thinking about a million things at once, dealing with people, trying to be a leader. In triathlon, in racing, I find the one thing that forces me to put everything aside for just one hour or just one day, and think about one thing. The humour in the fact that it's actually 3 things with two transitions does not escape me - obviously multi-tasking and sports still overlap in my venn diagram of life.
Thanks for reading, and thanks for everyone's support. Someday I'll learn the skill of brevity... I raced a sprint. It was great. I had fun. ;)
