Finally! Time to race!
I woke up and ate my oatmeal and got ready to leave for the race. We left at 5:30 to get there right at 6, when transition opened. On the way we saw the trees being blown half way to the ground. It was going to be a windy one just like the day before (we did our ride at the race site in the crazy wind-not fun). As we are pulling into the park we see lots of people already there. We decided to hurry and not mess around at the car at all because we needed to get to transition and get our spots (no assigned spots at this race). I grabbed all my stuff from the car in a rush and rode down there. Amazingly, I remembered everything I needed and didn't have to go back to my car for anything. Maybe I'm getting good at this packing for tris thing.
It was already warm enough to walk around in a t-shirt and shorts, but I wished I had a mesh mouth guard to keep the bugs out. I can't even explain how bad these little bugs were, so I won't try. I set up my stuff and did my warm-ups. Sweating already. I had just planned on an aero drink on the bike. The weekend before I was biking in long sleeves and pants, so I was used to not needing tons of hydration. Pat tells me to be sure to drink everything I have on the bike-meaning my aero drink and my other water bottle. So you mean I should put my other one on? Yes. So I did. Then after one last check for everything, we went the swim exit and got in and swam over to the swim start. Good choice, I must say. Way better than a shuttle!
My wave was the last to start. I ran into the men's wave before me about 400 yards in, and just made it my job to pass guys from that wave and the one before for the rest of the swim. It was a little choppy after the first turn from all of the wind. There was a cold spot out in the middle, but other than that, good swim. I came out of the water right at 20 minutes and my official split was 21 because the mats were a ways up from the ramp. It was a long run into transition. Everything went great in T1 and I had my shoes on the bike and jumped on and went. I think my transions are improving.
The beginning of the bike was great. With the wind and very fast. Just stay in the moment, don't even think about the ride back. Then right turn and into the crosswind. Using Pat's words as my mantra "shows those bars what's up," I stayed in aero the whole time with the crosswind (minus the two big downhills). The day before I thought the wind was too scary for aero, but not today, I had business to take care of. Then the first big hill. Went down nice and fast and up nice and slow. This is about where the race started with who I call 'yellow guy.' There was also a green guy in the mix. I passed yellow guy at the top of the hill. Apparently he needed a break after the big climb. Coach Liz said to go hard on the bike and take risks, so even after going up Twister hill I shifted gears as soon as I was able and was hitting the flatter parts hard. Then there was some more crosswind biking, then into the wind, then with, then crosswind. All this time me and yellow guy were back and forth and I passed green guy sometime but he passed me right before twister hill #2. So down the hill again and back up. On the way up I looked at my computer, 8.5mph. Watch out Lance! Somewhere along this road again, yellow guy passed me. Then we turned into the wind to head home. The longest stretch of road ever. Really wind, what did I ever do to you?!?! Anyway, yellow guy beat me into transition, but I wasn't going to forget about him.
T2 went pretty well. My only problem was finding my stuff and getting my race belt. The wind had blown everyone's stuff and bikes all over. My shoes were covered with a wetsuit and someone's bike tire was on my race belt. Figuring out that to get the race belt out required lifting up the other dudes tire, took some brain power I apprently didn't have. I grabbed an extra Gu because one had fallen off my bike at some point so I missed out on that on the bike. Oh, I also did drink everything I had on the bike (thanks Pat!).
My legs felt like bricks from the begining of the run. I had to fix my shoe once and I dropped a Gu and had to pick it up-I wasn't going to lose another. A short little trip through a wooded trail and onto the lovely blacktop. I was also wearing a mostly black tri suit. Awesome, just awesome. The temp had to be close to 90 with humidty of 983530. I was already wanting water. And I could see yellow guy. I decided I wanted to pass him by the halfway turn around. I ate a Gu and the beginning of the run and drank one cup of water at the first aid station. Then kept running and feeling like crap. And looking at my slow splits. Then I saw Joe out there, he had some good words of encouragement that were much needed. And I was catching yellow guy. And I must say, I'm really glad he was wearing yellow. Up and down some more bruttle hills, past an aid station (1 water again-another Gu somewhere) and up the biggest run hill. This time I was thinking "seriously, I have to do this hill another time, this hurts." Then around the turn around. Yellow guy is 10 feet in front of me! I didn't quite catch him by the turn around, but right after. The next time past the station I tok a water and a gatorade. I just kept feeling like I was going to pass out if I didn't drink a gallon of liquid quick. I was trying to run fast and hard and stay positive, but thoughts about how hard this run was kept creeping in. Well, probably around mile 4.5, yellow guy passed me and took off. Where was my extra push for the end? I can usually find some, especially if there is someone to race, but instead I wanted more water. So water and gatorade again at the last aid station right before that big run hill again. I think a turtle may have beat me up that hill. But I do think my last two miles were my fastest-I think the extra hydration helped.
I finally finished even though yellow guy was long gone by now. First female overall. Good swim, good bike considering conditions-I went hard the whole time so I was happy, and rough run. Happy and disappointed. Super excited for a taper race and to have my legs ready to go on the run. Until then, I plan to workout in a lot of heat and make myself tired early in the workout and push through, no saving anything until the end.
Next race: Pigman Sprint June 6th in Palo. Then taper some for HyVee June 13th in West Des Moines. Super pumped!
I woke up and ate my oatmeal and got ready to leave for the race. We left at 5:30 to get there right at 6, when transition opened. On the way we saw the trees being blown half way to the ground. It was going to be a windy one just like the day before (we did our ride at the race site in the crazy wind-not fun). As we are pulling into the park we see lots of people already there. We decided to hurry and not mess around at the car at all because we needed to get to transition and get our spots (no assigned spots at this race). I grabbed all my stuff from the car in a rush and rode down there. Amazingly, I remembered everything I needed and didn't have to go back to my car for anything. Maybe I'm getting good at this packing for tris thing.
It was already warm enough to walk around in a t-shirt and shorts, but I wished I had a mesh mouth guard to keep the bugs out. I can't even explain how bad these little bugs were, so I won't try. I set up my stuff and did my warm-ups. Sweating already. I had just planned on an aero drink on the bike. The weekend before I was biking in long sleeves and pants, so I was used to not needing tons of hydration. Pat tells me to be sure to drink everything I have on the bike-meaning my aero drink and my other water bottle. So you mean I should put my other one on? Yes. So I did. Then after one last check for everything, we went the swim exit and got in and swam over to the swim start. Good choice, I must say. Way better than a shuttle!
My wave was the last to start. I ran into the men's wave before me about 400 yards in, and just made it my job to pass guys from that wave and the one before for the rest of the swim. It was a little choppy after the first turn from all of the wind. There was a cold spot out in the middle, but other than that, good swim. I came out of the water right at 20 minutes and my official split was 21 because the mats were a ways up from the ramp. It was a long run into transition. Everything went great in T1 and I had my shoes on the bike and jumped on and went. I think my transions are improving.
The beginning of the bike was great. With the wind and very fast. Just stay in the moment, don't even think about the ride back. Then right turn and into the crosswind. Using Pat's words as my mantra "shows those bars what's up," I stayed in aero the whole time with the crosswind (minus the two big downhills). The day before I thought the wind was too scary for aero, but not today, I had business to take care of. Then the first big hill. Went down nice and fast and up nice and slow. This is about where the race started with who I call 'yellow guy.' There was also a green guy in the mix. I passed yellow guy at the top of the hill. Apparently he needed a break after the big climb. Coach Liz said to go hard on the bike and take risks, so even after going up Twister hill I shifted gears as soon as I was able and was hitting the flatter parts hard. Then there was some more crosswind biking, then into the wind, then with, then crosswind. All this time me and yellow guy were back and forth and I passed green guy sometime but he passed me right before twister hill #2. So down the hill again and back up. On the way up I looked at my computer, 8.5mph. Watch out Lance! Somewhere along this road again, yellow guy passed me. Then we turned into the wind to head home. The longest stretch of road ever. Really wind, what did I ever do to you?!?! Anyway, yellow guy beat me into transition, but I wasn't going to forget about him.
T2 went pretty well. My only problem was finding my stuff and getting my race belt. The wind had blown everyone's stuff and bikes all over. My shoes were covered with a wetsuit and someone's bike tire was on my race belt. Figuring out that to get the race belt out required lifting up the other dudes tire, took some brain power I apprently didn't have. I grabbed an extra Gu because one had fallen off my bike at some point so I missed out on that on the bike. Oh, I also did drink everything I had on the bike (thanks Pat!).
My legs felt like bricks from the begining of the run. I had to fix my shoe once and I dropped a Gu and had to pick it up-I wasn't going to lose another. A short little trip through a wooded trail and onto the lovely blacktop. I was also wearing a mostly black tri suit. Awesome, just awesome. The temp had to be close to 90 with humidty of 983530. I was already wanting water. And I could see yellow guy. I decided I wanted to pass him by the halfway turn around. I ate a Gu and the beginning of the run and drank one cup of water at the first aid station. Then kept running and feeling like crap. And looking at my slow splits. Then I saw Joe out there, he had some good words of encouragement that were much needed. And I was catching yellow guy. And I must say, I'm really glad he was wearing yellow. Up and down some more bruttle hills, past an aid station (1 water again-another Gu somewhere) and up the biggest run hill. This time I was thinking "seriously, I have to do this hill another time, this hurts." Then around the turn around. Yellow guy is 10 feet in front of me! I didn't quite catch him by the turn around, but right after. The next time past the station I tok a water and a gatorade. I just kept feeling like I was going to pass out if I didn't drink a gallon of liquid quick. I was trying to run fast and hard and stay positive, but thoughts about how hard this run was kept creeping in. Well, probably around mile 4.5, yellow guy passed me and took off. Where was my extra push for the end? I can usually find some, especially if there is someone to race, but instead I wanted more water. So water and gatorade again at the last aid station right before that big run hill again. I think a turtle may have beat me up that hill. But I do think my last two miles were my fastest-I think the extra hydration helped.
I finally finished even though yellow guy was long gone by now. First female overall. Good swim, good bike considering conditions-I went hard the whole time so I was happy, and rough run. Happy and disappointed. Super excited for a taper race and to have my legs ready to go on the run. Until then, I plan to workout in a lot of heat and make myself tired early in the workout and push through, no saving anything until the end.
Next race: Pigman Sprint June 6th in Palo. Then taper some for HyVee June 13th in West Des Moines. Super pumped!
