Monterey Bay Outrigger Hoe Wa'a Races - May 26, 2012

Tamalpais Outrigger canoe club Novice Women  #1 of 8 teams  38:35:95

It was a cold and drippy morning, the Tamalpais Novice Women ruled the swells, coming in with a race to the finish on the beach with one of the Novice Men's teams..... we *almost* beat them....  oh well, what a fun race it was.  As usual, Hammer Nutrition prepared me and got me through the 38 minutes.. one bottle of Heed prior to race and usual supplements and vitamins a few hours before the start.

San Diego ITU Age Group Championships - May 12, 2012

Sprint Distance
750 Meter Swim - 12:28
16.6 Mile Bike - 58:38
5 K Run - 29:02
1:44:10

#215/597 overall

#1/11 (F 60-64)

A race at the birth place of triathlon.. Mission Bay, San Diego.  I had not been to Mission Bay for years.. and forgot to bring my trusty map of the area... that turned out to be a big mistake because of the parking situation.  All competitors and spectators were asked to park in a lot a few miles away from the race venue.   I ended up getting lost both on Friday after checking in to the race and riding my friend's bike back to the car....and on Saturday, while riding back to my car after the race..... oh well.. I really should have had that map!


The Sprint race started at 8:50 am.. the Olympic distance had begun earlier.. much earlier.. I think it started at 7am.   I got up at 5:45am, had my usual breakfast (coffee, oatmeal, banana, hammergel, protein powder, Heed and vitamins and supplements - including Premium Insurance Caps, Race Caps Supreme, Zobaline, Super Antioxidants and Mito Caps).  I left La Jolla at about 6:55am to drive to the lot and then get on the shuttle.  We all had to check our bikes in the night before, so riding to the race was not an option.

Getting to the transition area was easy on race morning, I arrived with plenty of hang out time and plenty of time to ponder which wetsuit to wear.  I usually go in the water the day before, but I didn't have any swimming stuff with me on Friday.. so I did the stand in the water test.  People were saying that the water was 64 degrees.. it felt warmer than that, but it's always hard to tell what it will feel like unless you get all the way in the water... I decided to pack both Xterras -- my brand new long sleeve and my trusty sleeveless.   I ended up going with the Sleeveless and just one regular cap... I was very comfortable for the 750 meter swim.. water was reported as 65 degrees on race morning.  I got in the water a few minutes before the race... it was super salty.. I don't know why that should have surprised me, but it did.

The race started on the beach --- we all ran into the water and started to swim like crazy..  All of the buoys were easy to see, turns were well marked and it seemed like easy swim.. until I got to the mud near shore and began slogging my way out of the water.. it felt like gooey sand and dirt... everyone was slowed down by it.

I ran into transition and saw that I was the first in my general racking area to get there.. I took off my wetsuit, put on my helmet, glasses and shoes and took off on the bike course.  The sprint course was one loop, olympic course was two.. I was very glad to to have to do the bike course twice.. it was hilly!


A few women passed me on the bike.. but I didn't notice anyone in my age group.  And as always, I was thankful to get back to T2 with no accidents or mechanical issues.. whew!


Then, there was the run.. the run.. the run.  It was flat, it had potential to be fast.. but not for me.  My delicate right knee makes it difficult to run as much as I really should for training.  As I ran, I saw a group of Outrigger canoes out for a Saturday AM paddle.. that was great!  For a few moments I thought about something other than pounding the sidewalk and trying to get my self to the finish line quickly.  As it turned out, I did manage to win my age group by a few minutes.  I didn't really expect to win this one.. but I'll take it!  It was a thrill to be honored on the podium with all of the other Age Group Champions!