Musselman - The Race
July 16, 2006
Got up early, got ready, got the kids ready and met Suzy, Guin and ER to head down to the race site. We racked our bikes the night before, so I only had to worry about Wyatt's bike. We got down there around 6:30 and set up our transition areas, got body marked and made our way over to the swim start to watch the 1/2 IMers go out. Rachel stuck with ER as she was going to help out at the 1st water stop on the run.
We met up with Tink and had a few photo ops waiting for our wave to be called. We were all in the 3rd wave. While we were waiting the 1st 1/2 IMer came out of the water in like 30 min flat! holy smokes! Finally our wave was called and we had to climb down a newly constructed set of stairs to get into the lake.
We had a in water start, ~100 yds out, but it was still only up to our waists at that point! Our course was in the shape of an inverted V, so only one buoy to contend with. We wished each other good luck and got ready to go. I got sandwiched a bit at the start, but otherwise was ok. HOWEVER, I was not anticipating swimming into CHOP! Apparently the wind had picked up since the beginning of the race and it was like swimming in a washing machine all the way out to the buoy. It was tough and there were more than a few people who called for help. It was really unnerving and I had to really get up and out of the water to get a good breath. So much for relaxing and rolling! I did get swum over, right next to the buoy, but fortunately I didn't get the air knocked out of me. The way back in was fun as the waves carried you - almost felt like body surfing a bit. The water got really shallow pretty far from shore, so I had to stand a lot sooner than I would have liked. But hey, everyone else had to too. Oh yeah, didn't encounter any dead fish! One goal down. For some reason, the timing mat was way up near the transition area, so all that time is included in the swim time. Swim: 10:30
I was racked close to the bike exit, so that was good. Decided to go w/o socks for the bike and quickly got my stuff on. Borrowed a race belt from TN (thanks!) as I realized the night before that I had left mine at home. Ran out got on the bike and started moving. That's when I noticed it had gotten hot! Uh, oh. Time to start hydrating. The bike course was one big 15 mile loop. It was beautiful! As I started out on the 1st leg, I was watching my speed drop. We had driven the course the day before, and while it appeared flat in the car, it was actually up a slight incline the whole way out. AND we had a head wind to boot...grumble grumble...why didn't I get those aerobars put on yet?!?! Anyway, get to the cross road and now the wind is to the side and I'm going downhill a bit. YES! now to make up some time. I played tag with 2 other women in my age group and finally was able to drop them. At this point I'm riding right along the lake with the wind at my back doing 20+ and thinking this is great! It was a bit awkward getting back into transition as we had to ride over grass, but manage that, and look at my time...50:00. Ok, another goal down, 2 to go.
T2 was uneventful. Racked my bike, changed my shoes and off I went.
Ah the run...my nemesis. Ever since my hamstring injury over 3 years ago, I have not been happy with my run performance and today was no exceptino. Did I mention it was HOT!??? The run was and out and back course thru the park. It looped just after the 1st water stop. I tried to get into a good rythm and get my kick up while keeping my hands relaxed, but my breathing was all messed up. I think I took my inhaler too soon before the race, cuz it almost felt like I hadn't used it at all. Sheesh. I tried not to let it bother me when I saw someone in my age group pass me, but it did just the same. After what felt like forever, I saw the water stop and my daughter came running up to me and gave me a high five...that was great! Grabbed some water from ER to pour over my head, but missed and got it down part of my back and into my left shoe! Great now, not only can I not breath well, I have a soggy shoe. ick.
Hit the turn around shortly after that and then back thru the water stop. This time Rachel gave me a glass which I succeeded in pouring over my head correctly! Now the mind games began as I really wanted it to be over, but I knew I had ~1 mile left to go. Plus, the smell coming off the lake was disgusting, making it hard to breath right. Thankfully, we did have a breeze and some shady spots which helped. I played tag with another woman who would run like a bat out of hell, only to stop and walk - that's when I would pass her. we did this for most of the run. She did finish a bit in front of me, but I didn't care as she wasn't in my age group. I see Suzy coming at me. She's looking good! I had been keeping my eye out for Tink and Guin too, but haven't seen them yet. FINALLY! I see the finisher's chute and pick it up (or so I thought) to finish strong. Click my watch, look at the time board and am disappointed to see that I missed my #1 goal by 2 minutes...overall time: 1:32:19
I grab some water and walk around to cool down. I take a look at my run time and nearly get sick. It has to be the slowest race time I've ever had for the run. I figure (desperately hope) that the course was long. I talk with a few other people and they agree, their times are off too. Makes me feel somewhat better, but still not happy about it.
I park myself right near the finishers chute and high five Tink as she comes in. Right around that time, I hear the announcer say that the 1st 1/2 IMer is coming in off the bike. Ok, so 3 out of 4 goals isn't bad...I see Guin on her way out but I miss Suzy coming in. I do get to high five Guin on her way in and cheer her on.
Got up early, got ready, got the kids ready and met Suzy, Guin and ER to head down to the race site. We racked our bikes the night before, so I only had to worry about Wyatt's bike. We got down there around 6:30 and set up our transition areas, got body marked and made our way over to the swim start to watch the 1/2 IMers go out. Rachel stuck with ER as she was going to help out at the 1st water stop on the run.
We met up with Tink and had a few photo ops waiting for our wave to be called. We were all in the 3rd wave. While we were waiting the 1st 1/2 IMer came out of the water in like 30 min flat! holy smokes! Finally our wave was called and we had to climb down a newly constructed set of stairs to get into the lake.
We had a in water start, ~100 yds out, but it was still only up to our waists at that point! Our course was in the shape of an inverted V, so only one buoy to contend with. We wished each other good luck and got ready to go. I got sandwiched a bit at the start, but otherwise was ok. HOWEVER, I was not anticipating swimming into CHOP! Apparently the wind had picked up since the beginning of the race and it was like swimming in a washing machine all the way out to the buoy. It was tough and there were more than a few people who called for help. It was really unnerving and I had to really get up and out of the water to get a good breath. So much for relaxing and rolling! I did get swum over, right next to the buoy, but fortunately I didn't get the air knocked out of me. The way back in was fun as the waves carried you - almost felt like body surfing a bit. The water got really shallow pretty far from shore, so I had to stand a lot sooner than I would have liked. But hey, everyone else had to too. Oh yeah, didn't encounter any dead fish! One goal down. For some reason, the timing mat was way up near the transition area, so all that time is included in the swim time. Swim: 10:30
I was racked close to the bike exit, so that was good. Decided to go w/o socks for the bike and quickly got my stuff on. Borrowed a race belt from TN (thanks!) as I realized the night before that I had left mine at home. Ran out got on the bike and started moving. That's when I noticed it had gotten hot! Uh, oh. Time to start hydrating. The bike course was one big 15 mile loop. It was beautiful! As I started out on the 1st leg, I was watching my speed drop. We had driven the course the day before, and while it appeared flat in the car, it was actually up a slight incline the whole way out. AND we had a head wind to boot...grumble grumble...why didn't I get those aerobars put on yet?!?! Anyway, get to the cross road and now the wind is to the side and I'm going downhill a bit. YES! now to make up some time. I played tag with 2 other women in my age group and finally was able to drop them. At this point I'm riding right along the lake with the wind at my back doing 20+ and thinking this is great! It was a bit awkward getting back into transition as we had to ride over grass, but manage that, and look at my time...50:00. Ok, another goal down, 2 to go.
T2 was uneventful. Racked my bike, changed my shoes and off I went.
Ah the run...my nemesis. Ever since my hamstring injury over 3 years ago, I have not been happy with my run performance and today was no exceptino. Did I mention it was HOT!??? The run was and out and back course thru the park. It looped just after the 1st water stop. I tried to get into a good rythm and get my kick up while keeping my hands relaxed, but my breathing was all messed up. I think I took my inhaler too soon before the race, cuz it almost felt like I hadn't used it at all. Sheesh. I tried not to let it bother me when I saw someone in my age group pass me, but it did just the same. After what felt like forever, I saw the water stop and my daughter came running up to me and gave me a high five...that was great! Grabbed some water from ER to pour over my head, but missed and got it down part of my back and into my left shoe! Great now, not only can I not breath well, I have a soggy shoe. ick.
Hit the turn around shortly after that and then back thru the water stop. This time Rachel gave me a glass which I succeeded in pouring over my head correctly! Now the mind games began as I really wanted it to be over, but I knew I had ~1 mile left to go. Plus, the smell coming off the lake was disgusting, making it hard to breath right. Thankfully, we did have a breeze and some shady spots which helped. I played tag with another woman who would run like a bat out of hell, only to stop and walk - that's when I would pass her. we did this for most of the run. She did finish a bit in front of me, but I didn't care as she wasn't in my age group. I see Suzy coming at me. She's looking good! I had been keeping my eye out for Tink and Guin too, but haven't seen them yet. FINALLY! I see the finisher's chute and pick it up (or so I thought) to finish strong. Click my watch, look at the time board and am disappointed to see that I missed my #1 goal by 2 minutes...overall time: 1:32:19
I grab some water and walk around to cool down. I take a look at my run time and nearly get sick. It has to be the slowest race time I've ever had for the run. I figure (desperately hope) that the course was long. I talk with a few other people and they agree, their times are off too. Makes me feel somewhat better, but still not happy about it.
I park myself right near the finishers chute and high five Tink as she comes in. Right around that time, I hear the announcer say that the 1st 1/2 IMer is coming in off the bike. Ok, so 3 out of 4 goals isn't bad...I see Guin on her way out but I miss Suzy coming in. I do get to high five Guin on her way in and cheer her on.
posted by zojmn151 | 6:20 PM
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