Wow - I did it - yes another triathlon. This one was a true sprint tri. 500 meter swim, 15 miles on a bike and a 5 k run (3.2 miles).
I did the Hickory Grove Triathlon this past Sunday even though I had a double ear infection and a sinus infection. I swam great (for me) and the girls showed up just in time to see me stagger sprint out of the water and up the hill into transition. The swim here is 50 meters longer than Shawnee mission and I did it much faster (13:12 compared to 14 something for Shawnee Mission). I did feel like dying when I got out of the water and ambled slowly up the hill. It is always nice when you are going up a nice stick free area of the course and a spectator stands right in your way to get a picture …. really come one - you have shoes on — one step off to your right and I’m home free…. but alas…. was not to be!
all the results are here
Swim (13:12) - great swim - If I would’ve sighted better I would’ve been out even faster. felt a lot more contact then normal but nothing got me out of my race. I even drafted for a fair hunk off of someone doing the back stroke…
Transition 1 (2:27)- ok this is the first race with no socks whatsoever… and it went well - got into transition and got geared up pretty quick - but getting up the hill about killed me! Then my bike looked like it got knocked into or over… out and on to the course pretty quick….
Bike (54:31) - I relied on Shannon’s recollection of the course and thus spent the entire first lap (of three) learning the gears I needed to be in to be most effective. Top speed was 30.8 mph and I pushed that in two different places. Averaged 17.1 mph. I think I would’ve been faster but I got on the bike and heard this hssssssssssssssssing noise…. first thought was a flat…. nope. My brake got bumped and readjusted into my wheel. so for the first 4 miles it rubbed the entire time…. so once I got it moved off my wheel I had a much easier time. So next year on this race I hope to drop time on this portion!
Transition 2 (1:13)- another first - undid my shoes and hopped off barefoot. It ROCKED…. saved me a ton of time and allowed me to think about one less thing! I really enjoyed that move.
Run (40:55)- here is where I am disappointed because I really wanted to push myself and see if I could make myself suffer. I thought I was pushing pretty hard but I was only doing 13:12 miles … better but still was hoping for sub 13 minute miles.
Finish - it was GREAT - Shannon had Ellie and Grace there and they had cowbells out - Ellie and Grace yelled for me on every bike lap and in transitions (Shannon missed me a couple of times - uhn?). Anyhow at the end - Ellie really motivated me and she and Grace ran the last bit in the grass with me and helped get me over the finish. I could hear people cheering for people coming up and I was sick of being passed. I was totally gassed and my legs were in a rhythm that felt easy and comfortable. I sprinted maybe 30 yards with the girls help but no one passed me! I owe those two little ones an extra big hug for that!
Over all I was 21 out 22 in the Clydesdale division. Total time 1:52:15 - I wanted to beat 14 minutes on the swim, 55 minutes on the bike and 45 minutes on the run with less than 2 minutes on all transitions. Well failed on the 2 minute transition (did I say we had to run up a big hill??) but killed my overall time goal - I wanted to beat 118 minutes and I did it in 112:15. In other words I wanted to beat 1 hour 58 minutes and I killed it!! Absolutely demolished it - by the run and the swim. I met all my other goals - have fun, finish, don’t finish last, don’t finish last in my group (this was CLOSE).
I loved the distances and want to get a couple more sprint’s in next year!!
good news is - I can now catch up on my blogging!!
