Well this is the first race that I haven't had a nervous meltdown. As I right this I don't have the official results. On Saturday I was invited to a poetry reading and as I am attempting to expand my horizon of knowledge thought what the heck. I honestly enjoyed myself, I must admit just like in High school I tried to find the literal meanings of the words spoken. So I understood 1 of the 5 read, I got to ask the author some questions like I wished I could have in school. Afterwards we went to this high end Pizza joint, it looked good. As it was pre-race night I already had eaten and would not eat anything different.
I got to bed a bit later than planned because I was restless and not very tired for some reason. I had my breakfast of an Egg Wrap and got my gear together, added a few items thinking it would be a bit cool in the morning but didn't really need to as it was quite warm today. I arrived to line up to get into transition and bumped into Meg who I met at Coach Mike's Transition Clinic. It was her first race she asked me a few questions and it felt really nice to have the answers and speak from experience. Sign in was easy and then we waited, I had my Ipod to listen to so that I could relax instead of chatting with everyone, it was a nice change I think I will do at the next race.
I lined up for my swim heat and waited and waited some more.... 11:30 I think I finally got my face wet. I thought I would have to share a lane with 3-4 people but nope. Each person got a half lane to go back and forth in without worrying about running into or slowed down by the fellow lane sharers. I actually felt good, I banged out 4 laps before I really took a pause for an extra breath before continuing. I had lost count around 7 laps so I asked the lady to confirm and I was on my way. My arms were feeling a bit heavy around lap 8. Then I felt like a beached whale trying to get out of the deep end without cracking my head on the dive platform.
I was able to jog to T1. I fumbled around getting my shoes on, I tried getting the socks on but I quickly gave up on them. I need to get better balancing on one foot after getting out of the pool, I must have looked like a drunk sailor.... but the bike is my thing and I am happy to say my Garmin says my average speed was 28.8km/h. I was doing 11min per lap and I know on my first I passed about 8 people. The second I got passed by 2, the third passed by 3. The first lap was probably the last for the earlier people and then the faster folks came out and passed me. I was very happy I was comfortable in the Aero bars in the flats. The corners and the uphills I would hoods, the downhills I would grab the end of the hooks. As I came in on my last lap I heard my name being called and someone waving, Ela is in the house!!!!
I fumbled once more in T2 the stupid bike racks they provided were CRAP I and many others were not impressed. The last few runs have not felt quite right and this was another on that list. My left side of my calf OH MY **** it shot up my leg with pain. I spent way too much time walking instead of running. I would grab bits of snow and rub it on my calf thinking it might help it relax so that I could do better. On my way back from the turnaround I saw Meg go past me and her face was full of pain. She had a bike crash a day ago and it looked like she was feeling it. I then this big guy ran past me and I recognized him from my swim group and I think he was behind me in line so my new goal was not to let him pass me again. I accomplished the goal so I know I wasn't in last place and that was my other goal :) I know I am a selfish bastard, I have learned to deal with it :) So I get to the final corner and I see Linda doing her volunteering bit and that blessed finish line. As I ran past Ela I just said "Advil please" as the pain was not good.
I crossed the finish line and just stopped moving. It felt great I was kinda angry with myself because I know that my run has suffered lately and this was result of that. I used to say my swim was the worst sport but I am seriously wondering if the run has become it.
So according to my watch I did the swim in 16:16, bike in 36:22, run in a pathetic 45:37 for a total of 1:38:00 which is good I was going to be upset with myself if it took longer than 1:45:00
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