S - .5mi | B - 9 mi | R - 5k - 1:47:47
1/2 (F65-69) | 31/82 F overall | 122/241 overall
As
it turned out, this was my only triathlon of the season. After the
unexpected blip last March - abdominal surgery and recovery time, I took
the prudent path and waited seven months to do an individual race. I
did not know how it would turn out, how good I would feel, how I would
place, etc, etc. Lots of unknowns....
Getting
there: Up at 3:45am to get on the road at 4:45am. Drive to Long Beach
to catch the 2pm Ferry. We went down the dread Hwy 5, because it was
the fasted route - 4:45am - 11:40am arrival at the ferry terminal. Then
the 2pm Ferry to Avalon and an arrival to 216C Whitley by 4:00ish....
then a blessed jump into the water where I ran into my pal Cal Parsons
and some other Avalon residents going for a late afternoon swim... very
fun. The water felt GREAT!
The race was on Saturday morning, a civilized 9:00am start. Dinner the night before was the usual:
penne with red sauce, chicken, zucs and salad - chased by Hammer Electrolyte fizzes.
Up
at 5:55am, lemon water, coffee, oatmeal w/banana and Hammer Gel,
vitamins all by 6:45am. I left to rack my bike at 7:15, rolled down the
hill and had my bike racked by 7:25am in row #4. The air and water
were very warm, so I decided to wear my sleeveless Xterra and one cap..
it was perfect.
The
race went off on time, Wave 4 - all women over 40 - went off at 9:08 or
so. The Swim was counter clockwise this time because of the sink holes
on the other side of the beach. Apparently the ferry boats have been
sucking the sand out from under the beach.. creating huge sink holes...
hmmm... something is wrong here...
Wonderful
water and easier sighting than the other direction. Near the swim
finish, things got crowded, but I got through, went over the timing mat,
then took off my wetsuit and ran to my bike. It felt like a long time
getting my helmet, socks, running shoes and glasses on, but I did it all
as quickly as possible and ran out to the mount line. I used my
running shoes and toe clips again, it seemed to work out just fine,
again. The three bike loops were hard, but each one seemed easier.
Nutrition -- 1 gel and most of my Heed.
T2
- A quick transition to run, grabbed my run number and headed out. I
felt great at first, and then after about ten minutes, I started to get tunnel
vision. I pushed myself to run up the first hill, then walked some and
had a gel - constantly talking to my body, telling it that I was okay
and to hang in there.
It's such a short run, but it still was challenging. Victory was very sweet in the end, I came in first in my age group!
Post:
RECOVERITE saved me. I had a baggy full in the tri bag... mixed it up
with water and drank it immediatley -- that and standing in the ocean
was the cure!
