Buzzard's Bay

I raced yesterday! You'd never know. I have been a poor blogger about it.

Truthfully, I've been training, but not really for this particular race. I was more working on the cycle portion of that half ironman relay. But in the last two weeks I did manage to do some sprint training.

Results at the end, they're good, so I'll save them.

It was cold. Really cold when I got up. 41 degrees. Unsettling at the thought to be in the water at that temperature. But I got ready and packed the gear and heading to pick up Kevan and John.

Luckily Kevan and I swam a couple times this last week. The air and water were cold, but we found our way through it. The last time I swam was really successful, we did the Barrington Beach stretch and back and then a little more. I felt relaxed and good in the water.

We got there early and we set up transition and kind of walked the swim area and the bike in/out. I need to know where the exits are. I get disoriented easily and that's all wasted time.

I set up my transition like a pro. It's all that practice Kevan made me do. I know exactly where everything should go and the order it should be in. I even placed socks and jersey out in case I felt cold coming out of the swim. I had my water bottle to wash my feet... I was prepared.

My mom and dad came to watch the race with Josh and the kids, so it was nice to see them out there and have a cheering section. At these kinds of things, everyone cheers for you, but it's nice to hear your name and recognize people. :)

The swim course from the shore was daunting. But then I realized you swim/walk to the start. Nice. The channel we swam in was nice and wide. It was like I was all alone. At Wild Dog, I got kicked and partially swam over. Here I was just able to plug away and swim at my own pace, sight and not worry.

I was one of the last women out of the water in my wave, but I'm ok with being a slow swimmer. Really. I make up for it on the bike and the run.

This race was about how far I can push myself and working through the discomfort. And I did it on the bike.

Transition 1 was ok, I partially stripped out of the wetsuit on the way up and managed to get it off ok. I got in my shoes, slapped on my helmet and ran out the bike out.

The bike was nice. It felt almost as long at the half iron man relay. I kept a really good pace and passed almost everyone in my swim wave. I started seeing all the guys and their ages... 32, 24, so I caught up to the primary swim wave. Good inspiration that I was doing well.

I pushed really hard on the bike. I had a couple of good exchanges with other riders, passing, falling back, passing. Ultimately, I won! How cool is that?

I made it back to transition, dismounted like a pro. Which almost was to my detriment since no one else was, especially the lady in front of me. Yikes.

I got out to the run and felt pretty crappy. My legs felt heavy and the last thing I wanted to do was run three miles. So I go up this huge hill they have at the beginning, I pace myself shorten my stride and make it to the top and feel better. I plug away at the run, take a sip or two of water and then turn back at a mile and a half.

At mile two I picked up my pace, at mile three I float down the hill and use the momentum to pass people and carry me towards the finish like. I ran as fast as I could into the finish line and it was done. Yay!

Final results:

96/444 Overall. Top 100.

Ready?

3/20 for my Age Group. I placed! Third is not first, but I couldn't have caught that girl anyways. Second maybe if I had run a little better and swam faster. But really? For that day, I'll take third. I have next year to win.

Overall time 1:25.03 It was such a good day. The weather, what I accomplished. Lots of good post race food and beer. Kevan and John were a lot of fun as always.

race results.

Good times!

Now I can skip out on swimming for just a little bit before I get some lessons and work on my tattoo since I'll be out of the water. Yay.

Training for the Amica marathon in Newport in October. For sure running the half, I may be finagled to running the whole for fun. I think the half is more reasonable. :)

Duathlon October 25th! Not as intsense as a triathlon, but it'll do for now. I'm addicted to racing now, I need it all the time. The excitement, the preparation... It's all so much fun.

I should get ready for work.