Sprint - .25 mi Swim | 8 mi Bike | 2.25 mi Run
Sunrise was 5:43am on July 10th, so - no excuses - I had to ride to the race start. The sprint race was scheduled to start at 8:30am, I was staying in a condo 4.5 miles from the transition area and there would be no parking near the race start... so.. up at 5:30 or so, after a leisurely coffee, breakfast, reading, etc, I took off for the race on my bicycle at about 6:45am. The ride to the race start was hilly, so I just took it slow and had a great warm up. I arrived in plenty of time to grab a spot near the bike and run out. The day before the race, I swam in the lake with no wetsuit -- stayed in the water for about 12 minutes and shivered for the next 30 minutes (in the hot sun, no less)... so... conclusion... wear a sleeveless wetsuit, even though the swim would be short. The Olympic Distance course went off at 8:00 am. I did the longer distance in 2008.. whew! A hard course for someone who lives at sea level.. I was glad to be signed up for the Sprint this year.
Our race went off at about 8:35am -- the lead swimmers of the Olympic course had already started to come into the finish.. lots of excitement and lots of crowd cheering and support.. Sprint men went off at 8:30.... then our count down began... to 10 to 1 then boom, the horn blast and the big splash. My swim line was a little crowded for the first minute, but then a path cleared and I was on my way. Steady swim, no hyperventilating, easy sighting .. three turns, and I was in. I should have taken off my wetsuit right at the water, because by the time I got to my bike, the legs had stuck like glue to my calves.. I had a longer transition than I wanted, but soon enough, I was off on the bike. A climb out of the campgrounds, a fast ride through town and then the climb over Northwoods Road, back to the transition area. My ride was fast, just under 30 minutes.. which I felt was a good time. And then... the run.. or hike as it turned out.. How could 2.25 miles feel so long??? Because of the altitude, the hills and the dirt. I finally gave in to hunger and had an Espresso Hammer Gel at about 1.5 miles in.. it helped get me to the finish as #8 woman overall.. and #1 in my age group! 1:03:19.
This race is one of the best there is -- very well supported, great spirit, great volunteers, great raffle prizes and age - group prizes - professionally announced by Whit Raymond -- one of the best - and run by an extraordinary Race Director -- Alana Levin.
Put this race on your calendar, and if you are feeling strong and brave, sign up for the Olympic Distance....
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