Get your own Free Home PagePrologue |
This is a race others had mentioned last year as a great race to attend and participate in, and I was certainly willing to try this year! I arrived plenty early for this event, set up my spot, and got marked. There was extra time for mingling and milling about, checking out the sights, the course, and the "stuff" everyone else had. The elites sure had some GREAT stuff!
Soon enough, the pre-race meeting was beginning, and I was just about ready for it (I was a bit worried about not having my wetsuit on in time, but that was it!). The meeting introduced us to last year's winner and several other triathletes of note in this event, and I recognized several of them. I knew I wasn't in their league, but hoped to do well, nonetheless. |
The
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Just a measly 1/2 mile swim for me this race! I've been training recently in a long course pool outdoors 2X a week, and I hope it'll really help! Since swimming never is a really big deal for me, I was sure this would be just another swim in the log book. The wind had started to pick up just a bit before the beginning of the race, and the dark clouds overhead threatened rain, but it never materialized.
The lead waves went off without a hitch, and I was soon in the corral waiting my turn. They had us in over 12 waves (I heard 15 or so) and this really spread us out; the waves also weren't in age groups, so we were truly mixing it up! I was in the seventh wave, and soon we lined up at the water's edge, the countdown began....and we were off! I found myself at the back of the pack for the first 200 yards or so, then I found a groove and got going. I still have trouble with maintaining a straight line in open water, and I'm sure I lost a lot of time when I had to correct my direction several times. The swim was truly uneventful, and I exited the water in 13:47. The first transition began with a bit of a run up a slope from the beach, and I hustled into transition (thank goodness I'd counted the racks!) and quickly :-) got my butt out of there! T1=2:45. |
The
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Since this course was new to me, I took it easy at first, trying to get my bearings from the only glance at the map (I'd received it as part of my packet) sometime before the race. Soon, though, I found that I had a lot of juice, and started to cook! The course was a gently rolling one (unlike the Yellow Creek Triathlon!) which I found had hills, but not ones that were excruciating!
I pushed onward, and the miles just seemed to fly by; soon, I had completed half the course! The wind really must have been a factor here, because most people seemed to be biking fast, too. Eventually, some fatigue set in, my left knee was a bit sore, and I just looked forward to beginning the run before it became too hot! The bike ended soon enough, though, and I had scored! Time was 1:03 for the bike! Yeah! T2 was quick, too, and I was out of there in :45! On to the run! |
The
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Thinking back to the Big Creek Tri from 1996, I hoped this run would go better! I'd had little run training as of late, but what training I did have was moving along encouragingly. Previous races this year showed I could probably do about 8 minute miles here, as long as I didn't DIE IN THE HEAT!
I moved along with quite amazing fluidity for the first two miles or so, after downing an UltraGel courtesy of the race organizers just before the mile mark....And then....the heat began (Oh, No!). I struggled a bit, but kept chugging along as best I could. Just when I felt I needed a water stop, there it was! the miles clicked by, albeit slowly, and then it was just ONE mile to the finish! I kept it going, and even though I was running out of gas, I chugged into the finish area and across the line! 2:04:16! Awesome! |
Postscript |
This race is CERTAINLY one I'll do for many years. The race was laid out well, and the many waves helped to spread us out (750 strong!) The bike course was fast, and the run was certainly not difficult (but I'm sure it'll be worse if the sun's out!). I also found that several other triathletes I knew were at the race and even garnered some awards! (Way to go Tom, Steve, and Beth!)
The smooth operation of the this event is a big draw for me, and I'm sure many other competitors. My fast time this year is also an incentive to go EVEN FASTER next season! (I can't believe I was only four minutes slower than several I KNEW had to be MUCH better than me!) |
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