Another Skeezix race report

[Skeezix]

What a difference a week makes! This race went so much better than the one last week and I'm SO glad I did it. For sure I'll be doing this one again next year.

Saturday afternoon my mom and I went out to the race site to pick up my packet, I'd already checked the bike course and knew what to expect there (a couple good sized hills) and the run course was nice a flat- the water, now there was the variable. Seriously, I nearly fell over dead when I saw the water and course markers. Nothing like waves and swimming against a current that seemed to be moving horizontally to the shore. A couple of the other racers were in the water giving a try and seemed to be doing ok-then again these were like the super swimmers. The top notch of the notches. Me, I'm in the upper 1/2 of the notches but not top, honestly.

That night I eagerly watched the weather and nothing calms a triathlete's racing heart and head like the words "Small craft advisory". Crap.
Dreams involving drowning and sucking in great lungfulls of water followed by a tragic picture in the paper featuring myself in a wetsuit- which makes me resemble a lame seal.

But the morning of the race they called off the swim portion, because the water looked like this:


This was the crazy looking sky and the water looks calmer on this half of the beach but we'd be swimming in rougher section.


Holy hell, the water was rough and choppy and the sky looked crazy.

It was unseasonably cool as well, mid-50's in the morning and maybe warming up to be in the upper 50's low 60's by the time the race was over. Because the swim was out, they added in a 1.2 mile run to start the race- so the tri because a dual-athon. Which was minorly disappointing.

Anyways, the bike was good, sections of it were pretty windy though but I felt relaxed and just enjoyed myself. I was pretty stoked when one of the international distance guys came up behind me and said "Kudos to you for hauling on that bike!" This made me so freaking giddy I peddled just a bit harder after that. (I rode a hybrid while everyone else in the race, except two other riders, were on sleek road bikes).

The run was decent, I did have a few rough spots where the water I consumed on the bike sloshed about so much that I felt a little sick. So I walked when I felt that it, and ran the rest.

I LOVED the people on course, both the volunteers, the crowds and the racers. HUGELY different than the group last week, lots of encouragement which really means a lot to me. Besides the 'kudos' comment, a lot of people exchanged "good job!" with each other, from the announcer as I came back in from the ride portion "Look at her riding that huge bike!", I also got a "Keep it up Athens!" and a "I LOVE your jersey!"

Plus, kick *** goody bags with SWEET shirts, hair ties, carb gels, lotion, Triathlete magazine, several Gatorade products, Cliff Shot Bloks (salty goodness), and a bunch of other stuff I'm forgetting. As you came across the finish you got a medal, which is my first medal ever. I LOVE it. I didn't place but I want to wear that medal around my neck for a long while. I may be wearing it right now. Shhh.

Total race: 1:53
(they don't post splits or transition times and my bike computer malfunctioned for the second week in a row so I have no idea what those numbers would even break down to)

And even though it's not a one to one ratio race wise I was about 11 minutes faster than my race time last year for a sort of equal distance (although this course was harder but that course had swimming).

My Dad and I waiting for the race to start, it was darn chilly:


Heading out to the run:


And then post race with the pretty medal:


Uh, sorry for being so rambly and stuff.

[roadie gal]

Congrats! I'm glad this race went better and people were more supportive. That really does make a huge difference.

[Tri Girl]

You toughed it out from your bad race last week and had a great time this weekend. I'm proud of you for doing it. I'm also glad that they called off the swim. Looks like it would've not only been a tough swim, but dangerous. I'm glad the atmosphere was more encouraging and uplifting- makes a huge difference!
Congrats on a solid race. And I would've yelled at you too, because that jersey IS very cool!!!!

[Urlea]

I'm so happy you were able to enjoy this race experience much more!!!

Having encouragement along the way really helps me too. Now I shout out "Good job" or "keep it up" when I even pass people training.

It takes strength/bravery to attempt these events. Good for you for staying strong.

Btw, the second photograph of the water is stunning. I'd frame it.

[tjf9]

Congrats on your finish! Good thing you didn't have to swim in that - looked scary!

[teawoman]

Yay! Glad you did the second one! Aren't volunteers great? I couldn't keep going without them some days!

[colby]

Wow, that swim would have been scary! Glad they chose safety first. A guy I walked with for a while during my Ironman marathon was telling me about how they did an IM in Utah for a while, and the swim was so bad they were still pulling people out of the water for hours who had gotten WAY off course in scary conditions.

Great job! Love the picture with you and your medal