Sprint Course #3/35 F overall | #20/97 overall
S - 12.31 | B - 45:43 | R - 26:29 (T1 - 1:36 | T2 - 0:54) - 1:27:16
Forecast: rain.. uh oh..... I found a great house rental on the lake, about 1.5 miles from the race start, so I had planned to ride my bike to and from the start. I got up at about 5am.. had my usual pre-race coffee, oatmeal - banana - hammergel, vitamins, etc. and was ready to head to the start by about 6:10am. It wasn't raining yet.. so I just set out on my bike as planned. It was a zippy ride.. I got to the transition area by 6:20 and racked my bike near the bike In/Out. I brought along a couple of extra large plastic bags.. which came in handy to cover up my bike and run shoes, helmet, and bag of dry clothes .. because it did end up raining.
The Race started on time with the Sprint Men first, then Women and relays 2 minutes later. Because the Lake was so unusually cold ( about 62 degrees), the Olympic distance swim was cut short by about 500 yards or so. The water WAS COLD! I wore 2 regular swim caps with my Long sleeve Xterra wet suit and was warm and toasty for the 12 minute swim.
The run up from the lake to the transition area included a little beach, some stairs, a ramp, more stairs and then a driveway. I took off my wetsuit at the top of the first stairs where a conveniently located plastic white chair sat empty.. ready for me to sit down and strip off the wetsuit.
I ran up to my bike, grabbed my helmet, glasses, shoes and headed out on the course. It was cold, but I thought I would be okay without a jacket or extra jersey. As it turned out, I was okay.. just a little chilled. I passed a 29 year old man right away... as I passed.. I did the math.. I could be his mother! I felt kind of badly for him.. but he bucked up and passed the old lady a little later..
The rain drops were definitely getting larger during the ride.. I really wanted to get off the road before the real rain began and I was glad not to be doing the Olympic Distance race. The Sprint ride was a simple out and back course with the turn around about 6 miles, the Olympic racers continued on around Bass Lake.
It was a quick trip back to transition - off with the helmet and bike shoes.. on with the running shoes and number belt and on to the 5k loop course. I left transition with another 29 year old man, we ran together for a mile and a half or so and then he dropped me. I think we were both glad. The run course has a few hills, but it was over quickly as well. I was glad to see the familiar buildings as I got closer to town and very glad to see the finish line!
I managed to pull off a third place overall in the women's field! Yahoo!
The awards ceremony was held in the evening with a BBQue and band.. kind of retro and kind of fun. Some of the legends of the 1980's triathlon world were there at the race and awards... the 75-59 male winner was very inspiring. I wish Tucson Racing the best of luck in resurrecting this fun and challenging event!
