Race report: Route 66 Sprint Tri

[Tri Girl]

Did the Route 66 sprint today in El Reno, OK. It's the inaugural year for this distance (there's an oly tomorrow that's been around a few years), so it was neat being part of an event's birth. This was my first race since the big daddy last Sept., and I can tell it's been that long since I've raced. Felt good to get out there again and do it, tho.

About 130 participants (with lots of first timers- which is sooooo cool to see new people coming into the sport- especially kids- love seeing those middle school agers out there! ).
Swim was very foggy. Couldn't see the buoys to sight them, so just followed the crowd and hoped they knew where they were going. Didn't do too bad. Have I mentioned that I LOVE wetsuit strippers? Makes transition time so much quicker!
Bike was cool and overcast, but not rainy (like we had thought it would be). I always beat people out of the water, then get passed a million times on the bike so that part always bums me out a little, but I had a GREAT average (17.4 mph- which is fast for me and the highest in any race yet), so I was feeling great about my bike time. Now if I could just get the flying mount and dismount thing down I'd feel extra speedy.
Run was OK. I was working WAY too hard for the "slow" time I had, but it was good. On a sprint I know I'm not racing fast enough if I don't feel like throwing up. I felt like throwing up, so I guess I was doing OK.

If anyone lives up around these parts, you should come and try this race weekend. You can do the sprint, the oly or BOTH and compete for the "festivus" award. Our club puts on some fun (and inexpensive- $35 sprint/ $45 oly) races during the year, and we always feed you good food (burgers or dogs, snacks and homemade cookies) and all the free beer you can drink when you finish. Too bad I've never felt good enough to throw a few back after a race!

Then after the race I got to test-ride a friends Felt tri bike and it was sooooo smooth- like butta... I was drooling over it (and it's just my size- think she'd notice if it turned up missing?) When I do my next IM (2009) I'm going to alow myself to buy a tri bike for the training (which will be next year- yippee).

So glad I'm back in the swing of things... feels so great!!
Oh- and I got 3rd in my AG (ok- out of 3, but we'll pretend I didn't mention that factoid). Those other two women were just smokin' it out there- couldn't have caught them if I'd been riding a scooter instead of a bike.

[KSH]

WOW! Great job! I bet it felt nice to race, and not be out there for more than a couple of hours... eh?

Sounds like a nice race and congrats on placing 3rd in your AG... and hey, I say take it anyway you can get it

So, when is your next race? Eh?

[eclectic]

Thanks for the great report!

And Congrats too on the great finish (no need to qualify

It sounds like you pushed yourself and didn't take it like a little "walk in the Park" after doing an IM.

Once again WAY TO GO CLAP, CLAP, CLAP AND HIGH FIVE!

[colby]

Great job, Tri Girl!! Nice bike!

[btchance]

Great job!! Bet you were glad to get back out there. Quick question - are there any tris or duathlons in the area in July or the first week of August. I'm going to be in town, and would love to do a race there if I have the time.

and again, congrats!!

[Tri Girl]

Thanks everybody!

Btchance- there are only two local events in July/August.
On July 7th there is an off-road duathlon (mtn bike and trail run) and the 8th is the road version (see www.triokc.org).
August 5th there is the Lighthouse Tri (a sprint) in NW OKC
(see http://www.okclighthouse.com/LHTRI/registration.htm).
That's about it for July and August right around here. Just too hot to do much more in July/August. It's a shame because most of the local events are early summer and late summer. It'd be nice to have some mid-summer.

[HappyAnika]

Thanks for the report, and great job on the bike. Third in AG is fantastic!

[Lise]

...couldn't have caught them if I'd been riding a scooter instead of a bike.

Is a scooter an option?!? I'd like a scooter for the run portion, as I actually enjoy riding a bike.

Congrats on getting back in the saddle with such a great race! I know that it felt especially good to race again after a big deal race. I felt such doubt, like...did I really do that?...racing again, even a shorter distance, reminds you that yes, you are a triathlete! Good for you. Any medal for the 3rd place finish? My goal is to take 1st in my age group in every race because I'm so old that there's no one else IN my age group!

[eclectic]

Is a scooter an option?!? I'd like a scooter for the run portion, as I actually enjoy riding a bike.

Congrats on getting back in the saddle with such a great race! I know that it felt especially good to race again after a big deal race. I felt such doubt, like...did I really do that?...racing again, even a shorter distance, reminds you that yes, you are a triathlete! Good for you. Any medal for the 3rd place finish? My goal is to take 1st in my age group in every race because I'm so old that there's no one else IN my age group!

Lise come on up here - or maybe I could come down there and we could give each other a run for the money - I am 50!

The gal I have been training w/ and is doing her first sprint tri too is 62! and she can kick me on the run portion (but I kick on the swim) we are about even on the bike so it should be interesting. The category is 50 and over so we will be racing each other. (although my first goal is to finish, 2nd goal - in less than 2 hours, now 3rd goal Beat M___ Competitive who me?
this should be interesting. The monster comes out as the event nears

[btchance]

Hehe, understand about being too hot to do much of anything! I'll look into the Lighthouse sprint and maybe do that one. I'll just be getting into town for the other one, and that might be a little too much at one time (but you never know with me.) Thanks!

Thanks everybody!

Btchance- there are only two local events in July/August.
On July 7th there is an off-road duathlon (mtn bike and trail run) and the 8th is the road version (see www.triokc.org).
August 5th there is the Lighthouse Tri (a sprint) in NW OKC
(see http://www.okclighthouse.com/LHTRI/registration.htm).
That's about it for July and August right around here. Just too hot to do much more in July/August. It's a shame because most of the local events are early summer and late summer. It'd be nice to have some mid-summer.