Walnut Creek Triathlon

Saturday I finished the olympic Walnut Creek Triathlon just outside of Charlottesville. I'm pretty pleased with how it went, even if I came in (almost) last place.

This was my fourth triathlon, but also the one for which I trained the least. I did a few weeks of base building that I made up on my own, and then followed an 8-week training program. Mostly. There were several weeks in which I didn't get all the workouts in, which is unusual for me. But I guess I was mostly just training for this tri as a way to stay fit over the summer and mix my physical activity up a little after last fall's marathon and the IT band troubles that followed. I also spent week 7 of the training program at the beach and didn't do a single workout, so that didn't help. (Though it felt like great rest.)

Anyway, Friday after work I went to packet pickup and stayed for the optional pre-race briefing. I also got a look at how far apart the buoys were in the lake and panicked a little. Not only did they seem very far apart, but we were going to have to do two laps. Yikes.

The right half of the swim course, showing the middle yellow buoy on the left and the third buoy on the far right.

Saturday I made sure to get to the race venue plenty early. I got my bike set up in transition, then sort of hung out for a while chatting with a few other people I knew who would be racing. I also made several trips to the restroom (of course), and was grateful for real bathrooms instead of the usual porta potties at races. Finally it was time to leave my shoes behind and head down to the beach.

Nervous and excited to start!

I was nervous about the swim. I'm terrible at the swim in tris. In the past three I've done I've always been unable to get into a good breathing groove and have panicked and just done the backstroke instead. (Which hey, has always worked. But isn't ideal.) So this time my main goal for the whole race was simply to swim normally, no matter how slowly I needed to go. So going into the swim I was nervous but also determined to slowly do what I needed to do, knowing I'd probably come out last but also knowing I've always been one of the last people out of the water anyway and it's okay.

What a pretty day!

I started in the back of the pack (which was all the olympic women and relays and was still probably under twenty people), and took it slow. And my breathing seemed fine, and my sighting was good, and everything worked out just as I'd hoped. I did it! I swam freestyle the whole way! And I made it just in time not to be clobbered by the sprint swimmers who started forty minutes later. I was a little annoyed a few times with how closely some kayakers clung to me, but I think they were just trying to help. I'm sure I looked like I needed a lot of help. Finally after making my two big laps I finished the 1500 meters, but not without getting tangled in a patch of lilly pads on my way out of the lake and actually shrieking a little and turning on my back to kick them off. That was the part where I realized I could just stand up and walk out. I got out, said "hey" to my friend Rachel who came to spectate, and ran up a grassy hill (already out of breath) to get ready for the bike.

Swim--1500 meters, 46:05, 32 out of 33 overall (I could have sworn I was last out but apparently I passed a guy?)

T1--2:14 (I should have used the buckets of water they had to help get grass off my wet feet.)

My bike and transition setup.

Next up was the bike ride. Unfortunately I was already feeling pretty winded from the swim, and the bike route got really hilly really quickly. I'm never fast on the bike, even if I try, but this was also the first time I remember starting the bike when I already felt a little tired. (Thanks a lot freestyle.) In any case, I just looked forward to enjoying a bike ride on a beautiful day, not terribly optimistic that I'd ever actually catch up to anyone else. I was also extra cautious on the hills, because the last time I'd ridden outside (about three weeks prior) I had actually failed at shifting properly on a steep hill and had fallen over in the middle of a street with a car crawling right behind me to witness the whole embarrassing thing. I was fine, but it made me paranoid about hills and I spent most of the race downshifting drastically on all hills, and thus going a little slower than I could have. Oh well.

Bike--23.5 miles, 1:36:19, 31 out of 33 overall (Apparently two ladies had slightly slower bike times but were far enough ahead of me that I still came in last on the bike.)

T2--2:54

Finally came the run. I had been worried during the week leading up to the race that I'd be cold before and after the swim, but thought the running temp should be perfect. Turns out the running temp was a little warmer than perfect. And there were still so many hills! (The first mile+ of the bike and race course are the same as you head out of the park, and there's a giant hill!) The run was an out-and-back, and I wasn't really feeling it. I was also not about to push myself enough to cause any IT band trouble again. So I ran what I could, and walked most of the big uphills. I also walked a steep downhill. And I stopped briefly at all the water stops. I already knew I was in last place and didn't feel like killing myself. And about 1.5 miles from the finish I did actually pass a guy, who I think might have been injured and walked the whole run course. So when I headed into the finish line and saw Rachel cheering on the side I was able to say "I'm not last!" Barely.

Run--6.2 miles, 1:05:47, 30 out of 33 overall

Total--3:33:21, 32 out of 33 overall

Happily finished!

I had been hoping for a bike time under 1:30 and thought my run might be closer to 1:00, but I also didn't care that much. (Obviously, or I would have trained better.) I had still worked hard for over 3.5 hours and was sore and happily donned my finisher's medal. I also finished just in time for the award ceremony. Turns out I was the only person in my age group (they divided by 5s) and got called onto the podium for a first place award! Highly amusing. I got a neat pint glass and a reusable cooling towel thingy.

First time on a podium!

Overall it was a great race. The swim was my biggest accomplishment, and the rest just leaves room for improvement. This was also my first local tri, and everyone seemed really friendly. Maybe I'll finally join the local tri club next year? Maybe?

busy busy

I'm so neglectful of this poor blog. I was going to post about my trip to Montauk, where I spent two nights at an ocean-front resort with Celia on another work trip of hers. It was pretty great. One day we got a few hours of sunny warm beach time in. The next day we got some chilly windy beach time in. We also ate lobster rolls two days in a row, took a private water aerobics class, and had a two-hour spa treatment with full body massage, facial, and foot scrub. All free (to us). But that was several weeks ago now. Time flies.

Our trip was all courtesy of the company on the paddle board!

nerdy beach time

bundled up on the beach

I finally started writing my dissertation, which is now sort of consuming my attention. As of today I have a whopping twelve pages! Only a billion (or so) more to go! It's kind of stressful.

I'm also training for another triathlon. Olympic distance. I've been trying to do each of the three activities 1-2 times per week in a sort of "base building" phase, but next week will start a more official 8-week training program. After my marathon last fall I stopped running for several months because that race messed up my IT bands (I used to just have problems on one leg, now it's both!). I've been building back slowly, and have run up to five miles but I take regular walking breaks. I'm hoping I'll be in shape enough to be able to run the 10k during the triathlon without having to stop, but I'm not going to try to push myself so much that I just get injured again. Don't worry.

And I'm a little obsessed with house plants recently. Some day I'll share pictures of my growing plant family, though they never come out nearly as well as all the plant photos I look at on Instagram.

Richmond Rox Triathlon

On Sunday, September 18 I competed in my third triathlon. My first two were half ironmen, but this one was an Olympic distance. The short story? I did the backstroke during the swim again, yet somehow managed to pull off placing third in my age group!

Now for the slightly longer story.

The race took place at Rocketts Landing in Richmond. I arrived Sunday morning around 6:45 to set up my transition, then walked the half mile to the water start. Patrick was with me and we stopped to watch some of the half swimmers. I was nervous.

Heading in with my bike and gear to set up my transition.

Nervously waiting to get this show on the road. (Also, you would normally see more of the skyline of downtown Richmond behind me in the distance, but it was an overcast and foggy morning.)

My wave started at 8:10. We made our way down to the dock, then swam across the river to the starting buoy and waited for the horn. Between my nervousness and treading water waiting to start and having to adjust my goggles while treading I was already short of breath before we even started. Sheesh.

(I'm toward the right, with the white triangle on my back.)

Swimming to the starting line.

When the horn blew I started to swim normally. At least I tried to. My usual breath on every third stroke wasn't really cutting it though, and I kept awkwardly stopping to do a few breast strokes before trying again. But, as usual, I knew I wasn't in a good groove and I knew I was just falling farther and farther behind. So I did what I always do, because it seems to work for me. I swam on my back. And I think I was smoother this time about quickly turning over to sight before doing another hard twenty strokes or so. I was fine with it. But then this guy in a kayak came up next to me and tried to coach me. He was really nice. He asked me my name and told me to relax and calm down and he encouraged me to swim (normally) next to him and to breath on every other stroke. So I did that a little bit, for him. But I still knew it'd be faster to just keep doing the backstroke. So I did. Later, after I'd gone around the two turn buoys and was heading back down river he found me again. He asked if it was my first triathlon. He said I should join his group for weeknight open water swims. But I told him I live in Charlottesville. Again, he was very nice and I appreciate his attention, but all that chatting was slowing me down. At least by that point he wasn't trying to make me swim normally anymore, and he just told me to head straight for the smokestack. Which I did, on my back.

Swim (1500 meters): 46:36. (Really slow.) When I came out it was time for the half-mile run to transition. Luckily they let us keep shoes by the water exit. T1: 9:00.

The bike ride went much better. I tried to keep a good pace and felt strong. The pace was faster than my usual weekend rides, but still not terribly fast compared to everyone else. I did, however, pass a few people. So at least I felt like I was still in the game.

Bike (25 miles): 1:31:38. T2: 2:33 (Really?! My fastest transition yet!)

The run started out strong. But trying to go fast for six miles is hard, so my pace slowed some as time went on. The route went along the canal, across the river on the 14th St. Bridge, passed Legends Brewery, back over the river on Lee Bridge, and onto Brown's Island before heading back along the canal. There were a lot of turns, and one really steep downhill on brick that I walked down for fear of slipping or irritating my IT band. It also got hot on the run, so I poured water over my head at the aid stations. The run wasn't really all that fun overall, but I passed some people and mostly felt good. I was also pretty happy when it was over.

Run (6.2 miles): 58:11. Total: 3:27:55. My goal had been to finish under 3:30, so that worked out.

Catching my breath.

Feeling better after some rest and lots of water.

When it was over I drank a bunch of water and stretched in the shade. Then I got some food, though I wasn't really in the mood for eating yet. They had barbecue sandwiches but I just wanted to eat more cauliflower (the other raw veggies having already run out on the platter that was out). We didn't stick around too late, because I needed to hurry up and shower so we could go to Kings Dominion for the rest of the day. (We'd also gone to a birthday party and Ben Folds concert the night before. It was a busy weekend.)

On the run I remember passing one woman in my age group (our ages are written on the back of our calf), so I knew I wasn't dead last. I assumed I was probably second-to-last. It wasn't until I checked the results the next day that I learned I won third place in my age group! (Out of six.) If we'd stuck around longer I would have gotten a prize! Overall I was 88 out of 124 though. Meh.

summer swimmin'

After my half ironman triathlon in July I pretty quickly started another not-quite-as-time-intensive eight-week training program for an olympic triathlon in September, which is coming up this weekend. My friend JoAnne and I have been cycling on the weekends together, and since she's also training for the triathlon this weekend we started doing open water swims as well. Four times we finished a bike ride (three 47-milers and one 58 miles) and then drove to Sherando Lake to swim laps. Then this past weekend she was busy but I still drove out after running 9 miles for what I assume was my last Sherando swim of the year.

Swimming in a pool is fine, but swimming out there was wonderful. It always felt so adventurous. And I got to confirm that even if I'm still slow, I really can swim normally in open water. (Which was not clear from my two triathlon performances.)

We would do laps between the white buoy on the left all the way to the speck of a white buoy to the right of the island. It's about 140 meters one way.

I'm sad the season is ending and it will be too cold to swim out there anymore. And I'm already looking forward to next summer.

70.3: my second triathlon!

Last weekend I completed my second triathlon! My parents came to visit and go with me to the race in Williamsburg.

Saturday before leaving town we drove to the farm where I get a CSA share every week. In addition to picking out my bag of veggies, Dad and I picked green beans and cut flowers for a cute little bouquet.

Green bean picking. Dad wanted this documented so he can brag later about "working on the farm."

Flower cutting.

After the farm we packed up the car, loaded up my bike, and headed East. Patrick came along too. We stopped off in Richmond for lunch with the whole extended family, which was fun. Then we continued on toward Williamsburg and went straight to the Chickahominy Riverfront Park to check in for my tri. It was blazing hot but I had to stand in the sun for 25 minutes listening to the pre-race briefing. Then I put my bike into transition and went over to check out the swim exit. I'm always so nervous about the swim.

After the tri business was out of the way we checked into the hotel and rested briefly, then headed to dinner. We had a fun and good meal at the DoG Street Pub, followed by a stroll through Colonial Williamsburg and a cup of ice cream for dessert. Then it was time for me to head back and go to bed.

TJ selfie!

Sunday morning was race day and the alarm went off at 4:10am. I ate my breakfast in the room, applied my race number tattoos, and got all my gear ready. Triathlons take a lot of gear. Mom stayed back a tad later, but Dad and Patrick headed out with me at 5:45. They dropped me off and I got my transition area set up. Then after a quick porta potty stop it was time to head down to the water start.

My blue bike and transition stuff to the right.

All the other bikes and people getting ready.

It was really nice having Dad and Patrick with me, because I was getting a little nervous. I mean, I felt pretty out of my league with all those other triathletes around. My wave was last, so we watched everyone else take off before it was finally my turn to get in the water.

Early morning support team!

Here we go!

I'm in the (warm) water now...

Two years ago I did the same Williamsburg half ironman as my first triathlon (though the actual location of the race and the courses were different). I ended up panicking on the swim and doing the backstroke the whole way. This year my goal for the swim had been to swim normally. I failed. I swam normally for a little ways, maybe to the first sighting buoy, but I wasn't in a good groove and felt like I'd never finish in time. So I went on my back again. I would do 20-25 strokes, then turn over to make sure I was still headed in the right direction. Not being able to see where you're going really isn't ideal in a race, but I did better than last time at staying more on course. The current was pretty strong at one of the turn buoys and I could have sworn the buoy was floating away from me, but a guy on a paddle board assured me the buoy was staying still and it was me floating away. Which in retrospect makes me realize I probably lost even more time when I'd turn over to see where I was going, because I was probably floating backwards each time!

In any case, I finished, and was fine with my performance. Yes, someone in a canoe had to ask if I was okay. Yes, it's weird to do the backstroke. Yes, it was obvious to everyone that I didn't really know what I was doing. But I finished! That's what counts!

Coming out of the water.

Swim (1.2 miles): 49:20. Age group place: dead last. Overall place: 294 of 315. Transition 1: 5:09.

Toweling off so my sunscreen will stick for the long bike ride ahead...

Heading out of transition with my bike.

Next up was the bike ride. Mom, Dad, and Patrick were just outside transition to wave me off.

I love this photo. It shows how I feel about triathlon pretty well.

But I try to play it cool.

The bike ride was long. I wasn't very fast. I don't really know why. (Though, for the record, most of the other people at this race had tri bikes and rode in the aero position. That's what distance triathletes do. But I only have a road bike. I like to think I'd be a little faster with different equipment, but bikes are really expensive.) For some reason I was a lot slower than last time. The course felt mostly flat, which I've decided I don't really like that much. When things are flat you just have to keep pedaling hard nonstop. I'd prefer some hills so I can do a little coasting. Also, my bike seat always hurts after a while, so I really appreciate coasting opportunities as a chance to relieve the sitting pain a little. There were three aid stations on the bike course and I stopped at each one to stand up and stretch my legs out a little bit. Most people don't actually stop at the stations, they just reach out and a volunteer hands off a new bottle. I needed the breaks. But eventually I reached the end. (And while I was riding Mom, Dad, and Patrick had a 3+ hour break and went out to breakfast.)

Finally done with the bike!

Dismounting to head into transition.

Bike (56 miles): 3:42:55. Age group place: still dead last. Overall place: 298 out of 315. Transition 2: 4:56.

With the bike over, I donned my running shoes, put on more sunscreen, and headed out to run a half marathon in 90-degree weather. 

Waving to my family on the way out.

I got this.

The run was two out-and-back loops along the Capital Trail. Since I was so far in the back I spent the whole time passing people, though a whole lot of those people on my first lap were running their second laps. I also took advantage of the aid stations every mile, since it was really hot out. In addition to pouring a cup of ice water on my head each time I started to put cups of ice down my shirt. Eventually my socks were pretty soggy and making squishing noises because I was soaking wet from both sweat and all the water and ice I kept throwing on myself.

After my first lap I waved down to my family watching below the bridge. There were fewer runners out this time, but I kept passing them. My pace did slow quite a bit though.

Heading out on my second lap.

I was able to pick up my pace for the last mile, and after running around the perimeter of the park toward the finish line I was happy to see Dad ready to run in with me.

Done!

Run (13.1 miles): 2:13:11. Age group place: 14 out of 18 (not dead last!). Overall place: 268 out of 315. Total time: 6:55:32.

They put a cold wet towel on me and gave me my medal, and it was time to cool down. Yes, I finished toward the very back. Yes, I have a lot of work to do swimming and biking if I ever actually want to do well at triathlon and not come in last all the time. I think my endurance is there, I just don't have speed. (Or a tri bike.) But hey, I still completed another 70.3-mile half ironman! I'm still plenty pleased with myself. And I still want to do more triathlons.

Some food and a finisher's beer.

After the race and a little rest, I finally let my hot and tired spectators leave with me. Patrick headed back to Charlottesville while my parents and I spent another night in Williamsburg. Back at the hotel I showered and took a nap, then we went out for a nice dinner that evening. And Monday we went back to Colonial Williamsburg for the day.

Cute parents.

Cute colonial scarecrow.

Governor's mansion and gardens.

Fun race, and fun times with my parents!

tri-ing again

Though I'm still cautious of impending injury or illness or unforeseen scheduling conflicts, I'm looking forward to completing another half ironman-distance triathlon in July. I'm currently six weeks into a sixteen-week training plan. I bike three days a week (on the trainer, in front of the tv), and pair up runs and swims three days a week. It's a lot, but apparently I like to be kept busy. This past Saturday I rode my bike outside for the first time all year. It was fun. I'm excited to ride more. I'm also kind of enjoying swimming, even if I'm still super slow. Running is going pretty well too, though I'm still having to be cautious with my IT band.

This coming Saturday is the Montalto Challenge 5k, which I've done the past six years. Part of me feels like I should do it just to keep up my streak, but a bigger part of me is happy to say "sorry Montalto, I've got a 40-mile bike ride to do instead."

February updates

Remember that cough I had back in November and December (and January)? It came back a little last week. I thought I was pretty much better, and had started running a couple times a week on the treadmill at the gym. (Because even though I prefer to run outside, I was trying to be smart and not run in the cold, knowing it would probably make me cough.) I did a little swimming too, and some bike riding on the trainer. Then I decided it was okay to start training for a half ironman. So I started last week. Tuesday I rode 40 minutes on the trainer, Wednesday I swam 800 meters and ran 4 miles on the treadmill, and Thursday I did another 40 minutes on the bike. But Thursday I also started coughing again. I decided I'd better not swim and run on Friday. Then I went ahead and quit the triathlon training.

The cough isn't really that bad, it's just not letting me move on with my exercise life. I haven't run outside since early December. However, I'm keeping a good attitude. I'm giving myself a few more weeks off, and then will attempt triathlon training again in mid-March. And in the meantime, I'm trying to be smart and healthy so I'll finally get 100% well.

And in other non-news, I've started doing this semester's dissertation research! I need to spend a lot more time doing it, but starting is half the battle, right?

running and plans for 2016

I can't believe I ran a marathon in April. It feels like it was ages ago. But I also wasn't as obsessed with it as I had been two years before, so it didn't leave as much of a mental marker. Anyway, after the Blue Ridge Marathon in April I took a break from training, and was just running short distances a couple times a week, maybe with another visit to the gym thrown in. I felt pretty lazy. Then I decided to train for an October olympic-distance triathlon, so I spent a few months swimming twice a week, biking twice a week (usually on the trainer), and running three times. But when my grandmother died and I went to New Mexico for the funeral, I decided to stay there as long as I could to hang out with family, and thus didn't fly back to Virginia in time for the triathlon. (I felt better about this decision when I learned the swim portion of the tri was cancelled due to lots of rain. The swim is definitely my weakest portion, but I wouldn't have wanted to skip it.)

So I found myself in mid-October with no more than seven miles of running or thirty miles of biking at a time on my legs, and no triathlon accomplishment. I couldn't ramp up safely for a fall half or full marathon, and I'd never make it on a fall century ride (or even a metric century). The season for everything was going to be over, I had nothing to show for my summer or fall, and all I could see was a long bleak winter of floundering ahead. This made me anxious to start a training program and go big as soon as possible. So I searched for a winter marathon in driving distance that wouldn't have a good chance of being canceled due to inclement weather. I found the Charleston Marathon, which at the time was fourteen weeks away. Ding ding ding, I found my plan.

I'm going to hold off on actually registering, in case my body (namely my IT-band) doesn't make it. But I'm five weeks into my marathon training. I like having a plan to follow to keep me running regularly, and I like how running makes the winter more bearable. I also like the thought of getting a marathon done early in the year, leaving plenty of time for other events.

So here is my tentative plan for 2016:

• January marathon in Charleston, SC

• May or June olympic triathlon somewhere in Virginia

• September half marathon in Hawaii (!)

• October century ride

I'm excited.

back in the saddle

I'm finally biking again you guys! Since last October's century ride I think I got on my trainer once (when snowed in), and didn't really touch the bike again until late summer. But I'm training for a tentative October triathlon, so I've been riding twice a week. Most of the riding has been on the trainer (and watching TV), but the last two weekends I actually went outside.

The first weekend I was in Richmond, so I rode a familiar route from my Grandpa's house. I did 28 miles, including several hills. It wasn't easy, but it felt good to be out on the road again.

The next weekend JoAnne and I went for a 28-mile ride in Greene and Albemarle counties. I tried to pick a route that wouldn't be too hilly, but I failed. We survived though, and the area was really pretty. Once again, it was good to be riding again.

70.3: my first triathlon!

 Last Sunday I did Rev3's "Half Rev" in Williamsburg. It was my first triathlon and it was a success! (Mostly. You'll see.)

(I was in one of the last waves so that's not really my time.)

I arrived Saturday in the early afternoon. I checked in at the expo and picked up my race packet, and then I got back in the car to drive to the first transition (T1), where I checked in my bike and scoped out the swim course in the James River. (Unfortunately I didn't understand the swim course, so I remained really confused until the next morning when I asked someone else waiting to start on the beach.) The water was moving pretty swiftly, which didn't help my nerves. I breathed a huge sigh of relief, however, when I learned they decided to switch the direction of the swim from last year so that we'd be swimming with the current rather than against it. After walking along the beach for a while I left and drove downtown for a sandwich. Then I checked into the hotel and rested briefly before heading back to the expo for the pre-race briefing and to find my second transition (T2) spot. There are so many logistics in this sport.

T1, where the bikes go.

My bike, checked in the day before the race. I love how they had our names marking our spots.

The river the day before the race. You can see a red turn buoy on the left and some yellow sighting buoys in the distance on the right.

Since I was still nervous about the swim I decided to drive back to the river again, just for kicks. Plus I didn't have anything else to be doing, so it helped fill in the time. Finally I decided I'd spent enough time on my legs and in the sun, so I headed back into town to find dinner. Later that night in the hotel I laid out all my things (I had a whole suitcase packed just for race stuff) and chatted with a friend on the phone who has done triathlons to help get all my last-minute questions answered and calm my nerves. Then I hit the hay.

Sunday morning my alarm went off at 4:00, and I got up to eat breakfast. I had a bagel with peanut butter and honey, a banana, a cup of Greek yogurt, orange juice, and coffee. I also had to apply all my race tattoos (one on each upper arm, one on my hand, and some on the back of my calf). I verified that I had all the things I needed in my various transition bags, and then I finally left around 5:30. I drove to the expo/finish line to set up my T2, and then they shuttled us to T1. There I set up my stuff, used the bathroom, and then handed over my dry clothes bag and shoes. The water temperature was 80.9 degrees and hardly anyone was wearing wetsuits, so I decided not to wear mine (well, the one I'd borrowed from a friend) either. Then there was nothing left to do but head down to the water and wait for my wave to start.

There were three lagoons at the beach. The race started in the third and ended in the first, so we used the second to warm up. I was relieved to see the water looked pretty calm. I got in and swam around a little, then just hung out in the water because it was warmer than standing on the beach. Before too long it was my turn. I went through the starting line and joined my 7:25 wave wading in the water, waiting for the horn. I knew I'd be slow and awkward, so I hung out in the back. And then we were off.

As you know, I was nervous about the swim. And turns out I was right to be nervous. It was kind of a disaster.

I waded out a good ways because others were still doing it too, and then I started swimming. But very quickly I needed a breathing break. And then I tried to swim some more, but I needed more breathing breaks. I just couldn't get into a calm smooth groove. I knew I'd never make it in time if I kept standing around taking breathing breaks. The only thing to do was turn onto my back.

You guys, I did the backstroke for approximately 90% of the swim. Seriously. It was nice because I could breath and move forward, but it was bad because I couldn't see where I was going. So I'd do ten or fifteen strong strokes and then stop and look around. And usually I'd find that I was not in a good position. I kept getting farther and farther away from the stream of swimmers I could see off in the distance. Ugh. There were some kayakers and paddle boarders out there monitoring us, and they kept trying to point me in the right direction. Then I swam into the police boat, and the man looming over my head gently said I should be on the other side of the boat. It was embarrassing. I can only imagine what those volunteers and policemen must have thought about my crazy self, backstroking and weaving in a half iron race. But I finally neared the end and walked through a good length of shallow water before exiting. There were still a few people behind me and no one was telling me to stop, so I decided I must have made it under the 70-minute cutoff point.

Turns out I'd made the 1.2 mile swim in 48:30! (I keep thinking "if only I'd committed to the backstroke sooner I could have been faster." Ha.) Age group place: 27 (of 30). Gender: 103 (of 114). Total: 318 (of 353).

Glad that part's over!

After the swim I had to run barefoot almost half a mile to T1. There was even a water stop along the way.

Part of the looong way between the beach and my bike.

In T1 I dried my feet and put on socks and my cycling shoes, sprayed on some more sunscreen, lowered my bun, put on a watch and gloves and sunglasses and helmet, drank a small bottle of Gatorade, and ate half a Cliff bar. Then I ran out of the transition with my bike, hopped on, and headed off. All that transition time took 9:01. Yikes.

The biking portion was better, but still not without incident. Since I was so far in the back of the pack it wasn't too hard to pass the few people I came upon. But before long I started to get cramps (of the monthly variety...) and feared it was going to be a long and miserable race ahead. Luckily when I stopped at the first aid station at mile 17 I was able to enlist the help of a nice female volunteer who ran to her car to get me some special supplies, including Advil. It made for a really long break (I ate a gel, finished off my first bottle of Nuun, and used the porta potty in the meantime), but she was a lifesaver and made the rest of my race much more bearable.

Look that's me! On my blue bike!

 I continued biking, and enjoyed myself. It was pretty country. I wasn't terribly fast but I felt good and confident. I stayed on top of eating my chews. I took regular drinks. I averaged 16.28 mph. During the second half the seat got uncomfortable, which always happens to me, so I took a short break at the 47 mile aid station just to stand on my feet (and eat a gel and take a salt tablet). The 56 miles took me 3:26:25. Age group: 25 (of 30). Gender: 94 (of 114). Total: 306 (of 353).

In T2 I racked my bike, took off my helmet and gloves, got my Garmin (well, a friend's Garmin since mine died the weekend before the race) going, changed into my running shoes, put on more sunscreen and my visor and my IT band strap, stuffed some food in my pockets, and grabbed my little bottle of Gatorade. I ran out of transition but then stopped right away for another quick porta potty visit, and then I was off running. That transition took 5:49. (Too long.)

My T2

The 13.1-mile run was four loops, and I was surprised how hilly and "trail-y" half of the loop was. But that half was shaded and I'm plenty familiar with hills. I found a good pace and felt pretty strong through the whole run, which was nice since I'd been nervous about how running a half marathon would go after hours of swimming and biking. I also spent the entire run passing people, which boosted my confidence. (Since I was still toward the back of the pack most of the people I was passing were actually much farther ahead of me on later laps, but still. I kept up my pace and passed people on all four of my laps.) I ate a few gels throughout the run, sipped on the Gatorade I carried (and refilled with more at aid stations), ate another salt tablet at one station, and poured water on my head every chance I got.

Focused. And hydrated.

I knew my Grandpa and Aunt Judy were coming to my race that morning, so I looked for them on my run. I didn't see them on the first loop, and on the second loop I actually saw them driving away. I waved them down though, so Grandpa got to see me that once. (It was warm out and there wasn't a lot of shade for spectators, so she was taking him to the hotel. Then she came back.) Finally that fourth loop neared its end, and I tried to pick up the pace just a tiny bit. Getting to turn right toward the finish line, instead of left for another loop, felt great. I finished the run in 2:03:21. Age group: 20 (of 30). Gender: 67 (of 114). Total 255 (of 353).

Coming down the chute!

Total time: 6:33:07.

I saw Aunt Judy right away at the finish, which was really nice. As soon as I crossed the line they put a cold towel on me and my awesome medal. It took a while to catch my breath and relax, but I was very happy.

Finisher visor and medal

Aunt Judy and I moved to a shady spot so I could rest a little and rehydrate. They had a full spaghetti meal available but I wasn't hungry at all. All those chews and gels and a ton of sports drink left me feeling plenty full. Then we went back to the finish line for photos.

Leaving with all my gear. Mission accomplished!

I feel good about the whole thing, other than the backstroking fiasco. I also know I can shave more time off in several places. I have a lot of swimming work to do, but I'm ready and already looking forward to my next triathlon!