1/2 mile S | 15k bike | 5k run
1:35:22
#1/5 (F60-64) | #77/262 overall
Great race, as always, in beautiful Avalon. The bike course changed to the original three loops around Mt Ada.... more work.. more time.. more climb. The night before, I went to bed at 10:30p- ish, woke up at 11:30p, 12:30a, 1:00a, 3:00a then the alarm went off at 6:00a. Whew, it felt like somewhat of a fraught night of not sleeping much.. but onward into the morning..... Coffee by 6:30ish, oatmeal, vitamins, protein powder by 6:55a - then a short walk down to the beach to rack my bike. Our division had racks fairly close to the Bike Out/Bike In, so my trusty Pyro Platforms would probably work just fine.
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| Pre Race November 2, 2013 |
I got back down to my bike and gear by 8:15a or so. Transition was cleared at 8:55a. We all walked to the other side of the pier to get ready for our wave starts. The water was warm, so I felt like I could get into swim a little before the race... good thing I did, I discovered that I the rubber sealer on one side of my goggles had come off... uh.... dang! I tried to fix it, but couldn't see, because I didn't have reading glasses... ( oh the joys of getting older......) I ran back to my bike and gear to grab my spare goggles... remember this.. always carry a spare set of goggles!
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| Top three F60-64 - me, Helen Briglio and Joan Wright |
The swim started on time, I started on the right side of the pack and hugged the pier, turned to the right slighly and headed to the first buoy.. turned again and headed to the second buoy and tried to fine the straight shot to the shore. There was a paddleboard volunteer sending other swimmers too far left... unfortunately for them. I swam between the boats and got as close to the pier as I could, came in, ran up the sand, sat on the steps and took off my wetsuit, kept running across the timing mat and went to get my bike.
I used the stone bench to sit down and put on my running shoes and platforms, and then I was on my way. I almost dropped the chain on the first climb, but recovered by shifting back into the big chain, then trying it again. I almost caught the right rear platform on my derailleur cable (again).... but averted disaster, thank goodness! The bike course is now three loops around Mt Ada.. lots of climbing, but it felt just fine, no breathing issues and I felt strong! After the third loop, I un-velcroed my platforms, got off the bike and ran to the rack.. dropped the bike, helmet and what was left of my Hammer Bar and took off on the run.
I was afraid to stop running, even for an instant, because of the breathing issues in La Jolla a few weeks prior... I just kept trucking through the hills. It all felt remarkably great and I was really GLAD to get to the finish line. Even more glad when I found out that I had won my age group!
