Olympic Distance 2:49:23 1/4 (55-59) 30/155 Female Overall
S 27:04 | B 1:19:43 | R 58:40
Nutrition:
Pre - Oatmeal, Hammer Gel, banana + milk. Usual vitamins + 3 extra Race Caps Supreme and 3 Endurolytes. Protein powder w/water + milk. 8 - 12 ounces Heed prior to swim start.
During - Heed, Hammer Gel, 3 more Race Caps and Endurolytes during bike.
A race close to home at Mc Near's Beach in San Rafael. I left my house by 6:10am or so and parked about a mile away on Oak to avoid the line of cars and parking scene at the park. I arrived at the transition area by 6:45ish and racked my bike by the bike out. The racks were on extremely wet grass. I had brought a plastic bag with me to use instead of a towel to set up my bike and run stuff. It turned out to be a good idea. The race started a little bit late because of the long time it took for people to file in and park their cars.
I walked over to the swim start at 7:45. Lots of folks were in costume, as it WAS Halloween - very festive feel to the morning. This race is organized really well, no lines for any of the many porta - johns, lots of body markers, good food for volunteers and competitors, great sponsors -- generally a great race!
Thank goodness, the weather had cleared from the previous rainy and wet conditions, there were no rain clouds and this was turning out to be a clear and cool Sunday morning. But.. the water was COLD! I wore 2 regular swim caps and my long sleeved Xterra wetsuit - and I was still cold. My wave ( wave #6 - pink caps) went off at 8:25 am.. we still had some Flood tide left at that point which helped us get to the end more quickly. The swim course had us swim past the end chute to a turn around buoy. By the time I got to there -- the ebb had started to kick in, so it was a swift and smooth ride to the finishing chute. But, I felt badly for the wave that left after us.. they were caught in the Ebb, and had to swim against the current for most of the swim course.
I had a slow transition from the swim to bike, my hands were freezing so everything was difficult. Everyone had green scum on their faces from the water ( I don't want to think about what it actually was...... yuck!) I should have grabbed my jacket, but I didn't. Parts of the bike course were still in the shade and were.. how do I say it... friggin' freezing! My feet never really warmed up. The bike course was a three loop adventure with 6 very tight turns. I managed to swallow my race caps and endurolytes, have a swig or two of Hammer Gel and Heed, but my hands were cold for the entire ride.
In T2, I still couldn't feel my feet, so putting on my running shoes was very difficult. My right foot looked like a foreign object at that point, but they finally warmed up at mile 5 in the run. My run was steady and slow, I walked for 30 seconds twice and then for 20 seconds once. I hadn't been training for running much at all -- in an effort to save my right knee for the races.. I dunno if that was such a good idea... but the run to the finish was sweet. Whit was announcing, so he pronounced my name correctly.. which is always nice - he also announced me as the winner of my age group, which is also, always a sweet thing to hear at the end of the race.
A great race, great prizes ( I won a full tune up for my bike.. something I really needed!) and good schwag.
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