speedvegan

1 mile run – 10 mile bike – 3.1 mile run

On the podium

Total Time: 1:06:48
Run 1: 7:15
T1: 1:37
Bike: 30:37
T2: 1:25
Run 2: 25:54
Overall Place: 41
Gender Place: 4
Category Place: 1

I wasn’t as nervous as I usually am leading up to this race. I signed up for it after finishing the 5K I did with Geoffrey recently. It’s been a psychological struggle for me to get back out there among “the athletes” after being injured and unable to train properly for what seemed like an eternity to me. Although I have been feeling stronger and almost “back to normal” recently, I hadn’t plunged into the racing scene yet because races always make me incredibly anxious. I know some nervousness is normal, and helpful even, but I really freak out. However, I felt good after the 5K. I was cool and collected during that race. It was a good way to break the ice. I wasn’t sure if I’d be ready to handle the swim in a triathlon just yet, so I signed up for a duathlon. Things couldn’t have been better. I mean, things can ALWAYS be better, but I was satisfied with my accomplishments in the end and the best part is that I enjoyed it. I had so much fun !

Getting branded

The first run was hard since I didn’t have time to warm up. I underestimated the amount of time it would take to drive down to the race location, so we got there twenty-something minutes before the race start. Luckily I had picked up my packet the day before so I had enough time to get my chip, get my body marked, set up transition and hit the ladies room. In the process I lost the gels I was planning to use so I ended up doing the race on half a smoothie consumed at 5:30am and water. I was scared, but smartly paced myself. I must admit I felt like crap on the first run. It’s hard not to when you’re running a mile and everyone in front of you is going all out and your heart feels like it’s gone 0-60 in 1.2 seconds. But I survived.

I made it to transition and panicked a little. My transition area was right by the run exit, which I thought was awesome until I got there and couldn’t find my bike. I was so confused, but eventually found it.

Finishing the first run – definitely the hardest part of the race

The bike portion is my absolute favorite part, except for the idiots who don’t follow USAT rules. I was happy-go-lucky on my bike, sporting my new “biker chick” socks that my friend in Atlanta got for me as a present. I was very cautious not to go too hard on the bike considering I’d done a painful 2 hour ride yesterday and I had nothing but water to keep me going until the end. It was a sad moment when I finally had to dismount my bike, but I was happy with my performance.

Finishing the bike leg

Biker Chick socks from my friend

The second run was better than the first. I found my transition area much more easily the second time. When I made it out of transition and into the running course my heart rate was 84%, which may not be high for some people, but it’s very high for me. I just kept running what felt like a “safe” and constant pace. I ran into a guy who was sort of struggling on the run but I think he must have kicked ass on the bike if he was ahead of me on the run, so I tried to cheer him on only to find out afterwards that he thought I was laughing at him. You can’t win with some people and the lesson I learned is to just keep my mouth shut from now on. He won an overall Clydesdale spot at the end though, so I was happy for him. He totally deserved it.

Finishing and still smiling

Overall, I was very happy with my performance. I came in first in my age group and not just by seconds. I also came in fourth female overall, which shocked the hell out of me. But I still have to wonder, what makes guys so damn fast ??

I know I’ve said this a million times before, but I just have to say it again. Geoff is absolutely the most supportive partner I have ever met. He was there cheering me on and taking pictures the entire morning without a thing to eat and probably bored to death. He didn’t even want to leave until I got my prize even though we had to wait a very long time. What’s amazing to me is not what he does, but how generously he does it. That’s what gets me every time.