Today is probably the second most sore day so far this year, after Buffalo Springs. I don't remember ever being sore like this at the 5430 races. Must mean I raced kind of hard... :-)
Yesterday was my final race in the 5430 tri series and also my last one before Kona. Two months exactly to the biggest race of my life, can't wait to not feel tired so I can jump into my biggest training cycle yet.
I woke up after sleeping about 4 hours the night before the race. This is a problem, I tend to not be able to fall asleep before midnight ever, and with a 4:20 a.m. wake-up call, it doesn't leave much snooze time. Either way, my alarm went off, 10 mins late, and I was rattled out of sleep, feeling like I had just closed my eyes. No time for a self-pity party, I got up and dressed, put some sunscreen on my face as I figured it would be a cloudy day, with no need for sun protection for an already tan-as-can-be Blonde (stupid I know, I just didn't feel like lathering up, I had some time constraints) Made coffee (!) and ate about 2 slices of a baguette (I had carbo-loaded big time the night before, make that the
day before) and was off. Luckily I once again had a chauffeur who drove me and my bike to the race, as it was pretty much pitch black out still. I arrived and saw no line for the timing chips (hurray) so the process of getting body-marked and setting up transition actually left me with plenty of time to get a quick run in and take my sweet time in putting on my wetsuit. The only problem of the morning was that I had yet to take a number two. Normally this is NEVER a problem, especially not on race day, but apparently my body was trying to hold on to all its nutrients. I was semi-successful and as my race start drew closer I actually finally felt the urge, only this time I was S.O.L since I had about 3 minutes to the start. After thinking over my situation and the potential discomfort I might feel for the next 5 hours or so, I was already lined up at the start, along with about 300 other girls from 3 age groups and off we went. I was actually praying I would be able to burn off those calories that wanted to get out. It would thankfully not be a problem during the race. Whew
I am not sure why I do this but I always line up at the front of the swim and after about 10 seconds I am fully engaged in a football pummel (sp?) in water. I tried my best to get out front but was soon engaged in a fight-for-your-life sandwich where I could not get my arms out of the water to take a stroke. Ugh, I was getting frustrated already. This would continue to the first buoy, and after sighting the rest of the buoys, I made the decision to swim outside this mess and avoid over-zealous swimmers with a little too much testosterone for their estrogen. I ended up passing a good amount of the pink caps that had tried to drown me in the beginning ( I wish someone would tell them that it's better to start conservatively if you can't hold your pace..) and moved on to passing green ones too from the wave before us. After passing the final buoy for the halfway mark I realized we were pretty much at the other side of the Rez, I could clearly see the dam! Hm, OK, well the way back had better be a shortcut. Not so much, it took FOREVER! I finally arrived ashore in a record setting slow time and wondered if I was setting my self up for a disastrous day.
After nearly missing the run to transition and wandering off to the side, I made my way to my bike, struggled (as always) to get out of the men's small wetsuit I wear ( size might be my problem right there) and put on socks and shoes and gloves (yes, I wear gloves for 70.3s because it allows me to wipe sweat and also gives me a firmer grip on the aerobars) and helmet and glasses, I was off to the second leg.
My quads felt like bricks for the first hour, which was really not what I was hoping for on this day. I took a few sips every now and then from my salt-infused aerodrink and focused on passing people. Surprisingly, my legs loosened up and I started to feel good. I passed a few familiar faces, exchanged encouraging words and kept the positive vibes coming. The new turnaround at 65th St proved to be a bit challenging as most of us struggled to slow down almost completely to make the tight 180 degree turn. Luckily I didn't fall. I think I'd like to go back to the old way next year. Onto the second lap, I found myself riding back and forth with Tracy and Kristin, the eventual 1st and 3rd place finishers in my AG. I am glad we found each other as our cat and mouse game made time pass quicker and also pushed me along at a nice clip. My final bike split coming into T2 was about 1 minute slower than last year, however we had a bit more breeze out there this time around as well as non-freshly paved roads that made for super slick traction last year. Thanks also to the encouragement at random spots along the course, Brandon! Especially the boom box surprise on the second lap, ha!
I hobbled off my bike to my trusty pink towel and could feel my legs tired from the bike effort. I also realized I had consumed 1 single bit of food, a single Clif Shot Blok! During the entire ride! My carboloading from the night before had better last for the next race segment. It would surely be a 13.1mi struggle to the finish from here. I was behind Kristin coming into T2 but slightly ahead of Tracy who I knew was a strong runner. I passed Kristin right outside of the gates and encouraged her to give her best as she still would be on the podium. Sure enough, Tracy passed me at around 3/4 mi and I didn't even try to stay with her as I knew I had a long ways to go and wasting my energy now would spell disaster later. I also could feel a pee break coming on. It is funny what triathlon (especially the longer distances) do to your head (ie brain) it seems as though I let go of any inhibitions I might have, about 4 hours into the race. If someone had asked me to strip in public right then and there, I probably would have done so. It kind of makes you completely natural and the pain you feel gives you tunnel vision to just stay focused and shun all outside distractions. Then when you see an aid station, you don't have the energy to muster the words "water" or "gatorade" so you simply point and groan at the volunteer handing you a cup. Well, at least that's what I do.
So yea, I came to a halt right before the dam on the first loop and went to the bathroom. Standing up, shorts on, hoping it wouldn't all go into my shoe. But it did anyway. Ah, much better. I wasted around 40 seconds or so, which later could have been the difference between an almost sub 4:40 race and my time, but at that point I couldn't take the full bladder syndrome any longer, and for some reason I just couldn't go while running. People passed me and probably wondered why I was standing there, all awkward. O well. I came back through the main area, dreading my second loop and seeing all familiar faces nearby, wanting to just stop and have the race be over with and sit in the rez to cool off. But then the race announcer mentioned my name and what seems to be my tag (Kona) and called me and Ellen (Hart) who was about to pass me (at 50 years old, I believe she had the fastest amateur run split, again! sick!) two of the top racers in this triathlon, so I obviously couldn't stop there. The second loop of the run was much more crowded than the first, as the majority of Ag'ers had now made their way back from the bike leg. I did alot of looping around people, missed a few aid stations, but luckily had my fuel belt with 3 water bottles, one water, one Powerade, and one Coke to rely on, so I wasn't worried. I grabbed a sponge and ice and stuck it down my bra, which made for a nice uniboob look, and before I knew it I had 3 miles left to go. Head down and on I went. Tunnel vision in full effect. My favorite aid station at the corner of the two dams had some more ice water which I half drank and half poured down my shirt and all of a sudden there was only 1 mile to go. 1 mile! I gathered all my strength and told my legs to start moving. If I wanted a PR I had better get moving. Some last minute encouragement from JK1 carried me to the finish. I wish I knew what I ran that last mile in, as I am sure it is responsible for my sore hammies today. I crossed the line about 80 seconds faster than last year, not what I had hoped for, but still happy to have PR'd after a sloooow swim and a bike split that also wasn't faster than last year. My run ended up being a 4 minute PR over last year's, and my fastest to-date in a 70.3 race. The weather absolutely corporated and I was feeling good despite the normal fatigue. No chills, no IV's and no collapse at the finish!
Overall I was 3rd amateur, behind Uber-super star Brooke, and then Tracy, who ended up outrunning me by 3 minutes, and second in my AG. Now I anxiously await the overall series standings, as they include some nice cash and gift certificate purses. I also should not be getting by on a single 20 or so calorie food intake(plus maybe another 200 worth of drink) for a half ironman race. 4th sport (nutrition) needs to be practiced!
Congrats to
KK, Kevin,
Kau and anyone else I forgot, for their huge PR's and their underestimated ability level even I didn't come close to. You all did amazing!
And since we are on topic, I am so inspired by the Olympics, I am glued to the TV, which hasn't been turned on in about a year until last weekend. Seriously, the swim efforts I have witnessed are unreal, the little gymnasts are too tiny to comprehend and watching the leader of this country(for another 6 months or so?!?) attempt to play beach volleyball with 6+foot tall women, while soaked in Beijing sweat is priceless. I cannot wait for Track to start. Next Monday is the triathlon I believe.
The climb up to Gray's. This looks easy, but it wasn't. 
The Ridge.
It's rather tough to balance in the wind, hence the less than perfect alignment of my gymnastic skill.
