Last weekend I raced Branson 70.3. I believe it is one of my top 3 favorite races now! But don't ask me what my other 2 are, I would have to think hard about that. I'm just pretty sure this one makes the top 3. Above is the Chateau (host hotel) and the beach were the swim was. Water was great, though I'm not sure how it ended up being wetsuit legal, but oh well. Swim went well. The waves were only 3 minutes apart and the two waves in front of me were, ummm, those with more life experience than me :) So I started passing people just a few minutes in and continued passing them for almost the entire swim. The last 700 yards are so I was all alone and it was great. Came out in 25 or 26 minutes and up the little hill to T1. T1 went okay, then off into the FOG. The hills started right away and it was very foggy for the first 5 miles. My sunglasses were sitting on the end of my nose so I could see. I probably looked like a librarian. A librarian on a bike. So, maybe not a librarian. Had to slow down on some of the downhills because the fog made it hard to see too far in front of you. If the road turned and I didn't....
Above: View from the Chateau
Some pictures of the bike course. This course was flat, so flat. Or, the hilliest bike I have ever done-race or training. It was like an endurance and strength workout in one. It was challenging, yet sooo beautiful and fun. Part of the fun was the downhills. I hit a new record-45mph! I love that feeling. Too bad there isn't a picture of me on the downhills, I would have had the biggest smile on my face. The uphills were tough, but I also like those. Weird, I know, but I never claimed to be normal.
Ok, back to the race. I was the first girl out of the water. One girl passed me just a few miles into the bike. I wasn't too worried, I knew I still had at least 4 hours of race to go, no need to bust my butt yet. Part of the course was loops. I saw her on these loops, after the first loop, I don't think she really gained too much more time on me. Another girl passed me a ways into the race, so I was 3rd coming into T2. Below is me coming into T2.
The run. Hot and humid. And after a difficult bike. For many, it was not actually a run. I think I hit my nutrition plan right, so that helped a lot. I passed one girl before mile 1 I think. Run was pretty good for the first 4 miles. Then it got a little tough. It was so hot and humid again like pigman, and it was almost impossible to drink enough. I managed though. The other girl that was in front me, she dropped out, but I did see her out on the first loop of the run. I think she came out of T2 about 6 minutes ahead of me, and when I saw her at mile 2 or 3, she was about 3 minutes in front of me. She dropped about before the finish of the first loop though (about 4 miles). So, if you did your math correctly, that would put me in 1st.
Matt and I with our awards. It was a belt buckle. I will wear it with my boots and line dance. Maybe round up some cattle, who knows! However, in the mean time, I will be nursing my feet back to health. I didn't post the post-race feet pictures on here, but I have them in you want them.
Above, the Landing, where the finish line was. This fountain also doubled as an ice bath after the race. It was great. A bit goose poopy, but great (as long as you didn't try to drink it). These is the fountain's normal function. These shows go along to music, which you obviously can't see in a picture.
Possibly my favorite picture of the trip. Did I say it was a beautiful place?
Some pictures of the bike course. This course was flat, so flat. Or, the hilliest bike I have ever done-race or training. It was like an endurance and strength workout in one. It was challenging, yet sooo beautiful and fun. Part of the fun was the downhills. I hit a new record-45mph! I love that feeling. Too bad there isn't a picture of me on the downhills, I would have had the biggest smile on my face. The uphills were tough, but I also like those. Weird, I know, but I never claimed to be normal.
Ok, back to the race. I was the first girl out of the water. One girl passed me just a few miles into the bike. I wasn't too worried, I knew I still had at least 4 hours of race to go, no need to bust my butt yet. Part of the course was loops. I saw her on these loops, after the first loop, I don't think she really gained too much more time on me. Another girl passed me a ways into the race, so I was 3rd coming into T2. Below is me coming into T2.
The run. Hot and humid. And after a difficult bike. For many, it was not actually a run. I think I hit my nutrition plan right, so that helped a lot. I passed one girl before mile 1 I think. Run was pretty good for the first 4 miles. Then it got a little tough. It was so hot and humid again like pigman, and it was almost impossible to drink enough. I managed though. The other girl that was in front me, she dropped out, but I did see her out on the first loop of the run. I think she came out of T2 about 6 minutes ahead of me, and when I saw her at mile 2 or 3, she was about 3 minutes in front of me. She dropped about before the finish of the first loop though (about 4 miles). So, if you did your math correctly, that would put me in 1st.
Matt and I with our awards. It was a belt buckle. I will wear it with my boots and line dance. Maybe round up some cattle, who knows! However, in the mean time, I will be nursing my feet back to health. I didn't post the post-race feet pictures on here, but I have them in you want them.
Above, the Landing, where the finish line was. This fountain also doubled as an ice bath after the race. It was great. A bit goose poopy, but great (as long as you didn't try to drink it). These is the fountain's normal function. These shows go along to music, which you obviously can't see in a picture.
Possibly my favorite picture of the trip. Did I say it was a beautiful place?
