Tri-ing in Central MA

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I started tri-ing the summer of 2000, one year after my daughter was born. I figured I could do all the sports seperately, but could I do them all together? Well, did Danksin that year and there has been no looking back...

Monday, September 04, 2006

Journey for Sight Tri

Ok, so the long awaited RR...

I have done this race in the past, but haven't for a few years. It never seems to fail, the weather always turns cool just before this race and this year was no exception. The forecast for race day was overcast and high 60s-low 70s. At least the rain held off until after the race was completed! I had contemplated not racing again after Musselman, not mentally with it, and to be honest, not happy with my results at MM, especially the run. But figured what the heck and just (try to) have fun.

This is a hilly course, both on the bike and the run, so I was not expecting anything spectacular...I really just wanted to finish the season on a good note. Its only 1/2 hour from my house, so I got there around 6:45 for an 8:00 am start. Plenty of time to set everything up. I met a woman from Canada who was visiting relatives and decided to do this race. We pretty much kept each other company until the race start and I saw her after...she said she had fun.

Swim: 0.5 mile
At least that's what it's supposed to be...looking at the course it looked a bit short. Oh well. I used my new wetsuit (thanks Rachel!) and it worked great! Definitely more bouyant and less fatigued in the water. All the women were in the last wave this time, and we never really got to spread out. It wasn't super crowded, but I always saw bubbles in front of me. Out of the water in 12:10.

T1 was up a short steep hill to the parking lot. I remembered all the tips Tink gave me for getting the wetsuit off and it worked great! Thanks! Decided against the socks and got my glasses, helmet and shoes on and off I went. T2: 2:57

Bike: 17 miles
The bike is a two loop course and has some decent rolling hills in it. I saw one lady blow by me who was in my age group and figured, since all the women were in the last wave, everyone else in my AG had to be in front of me. I was really hoping for a top 10 finish, but wouldn't be disappointed if it didn't happen. Anyway, played cat and mouse with two other women for most of the ride...until I finally was able to stay ahead the last few miles. I pulled into T2 just ahead of one of them (we were racked right next to each other). Not in my AG, so not worried, just wanted to see what kind of runner she was...Bike: 55:09

T2: off with the helmet and bike shoes, on with the socks and sneaks. I made it out of T2 ahead of the other woman, who had her BF? coaching in a loud voice to get moving and tear it up on the run. It was hard to determine where the run actually started as there wasn't a timing mat on the way out of T2, so I guessed. T2: 1:57 (or so)

Run: 3.5 miles
The run is also a two loop course but within the state park. It's flat to start out with, but at the beginning of the loop there is a wicked hill. At this point, I was ahead of the other girl, but she pulled away on the hill and just toasted me on the run. Bummer. After I made it up that nasty hill, I concentrated on my breathing and getting my kick up. I have been having issues with the ball of my right foot and so far so good. There were a few other rollers on the run and then came loop two. It really stunk to see people peeling off to the finish line and I had another lap to go. Oh, look, the nasty hill...goodie! NOT! I passed a guy and he said, "hey your doing good, keep it up", and I said something like "thanks, wish this hill wasn't here", and he said, "yeah, but you're passing me!" Made me smile...and he stayed right on my heels the whole way up that hill, pushing me. Nice! Unfortunately, at this point, my right foot decided it didn't like the running and started to alternate hurting and going numb. Dang it! I am not going to walk! So I would wiggle my foot and toes when it was off the ground and that would help for a bit, but it slowly got worse. Fortunately, I knew I had less than 0.75 mile left and decided to gut it out. I was coming into the home stretch and they were taking pictures, I tried to smile and give a thumbs up, but dang it's hard to smile when you are breathing hard! Can't imagine what that picture is going to look like. ;) I was able to pick it up at the end and finish strong. Run: 32:00

Overall: 1:44:14 Much better than the last time I did this race, but I think the swim was short.

Anyway, after I gave them my chip and grabbed some stuff to eat, I put all my stuff away and came back down to check my time. I found my name and did a double take....hey, that says I came in 3rd in my AG! What!?!? Ok, stay calm, not all the results are posted yet...keep fingers crossed. Kept waiting and they updated once more...sure enuf, 3rd!! hardware! Yeah!

So, not a bad way to end the season. YES! Now it's off to train for the Seacoast Century!