Today for the 5th straight year I went back to what was my first ever triathlon... The Athens Triathlon in Athens Texas! Between 2004 and 2007 I had experinced the thrill of doing an early season tri in the every weather condition but the cold. Well today I got to complete Athens in the freezing cold temps that the first weekend in March usually does not bring. At race start it was just above freezing... but with sunny skies!
I thought the swim was going to go well... it did until I hit the half way mark. I had just passed a few people in front of me when at the last few walls all I did was get smacked in the head and wasn't able to do my flip turns on the walls or under each lane line. Oh my goodness... I was going nuts. I was more than happy to see the last lane of the pool and was ready to hop out and get ready to freeze my butt off.
Transition was pretty slow. Put on the my pink long sleeve bike jersey, helmet, sunglasses, and shoes, got my bike off the rack and was off.
Not just did I pass several people on the bike, including Dave in the first three miles... but once I passed this one dude near the turn around no one passed me. Part of the roads were rough and part was smooth. Not matter what the surface... my legs were slow. I was ready to transition and get on the run... that is if I ever could find the turn into transition.
The second transistion was pretty slow. Again in the cold had a hard time getting my squeezeums pushed up to tighten my shoes.
Thank goodness for the run... my best leg of the tri today. There I was out there all alone on the going out section. A little flat mixed in with a little upgrade. The temps were PERFECT for a FAST run. I saw a few people in front of me and some of the elites coming back to the finish. I knew I wasn't the only girl out on the course but I had my thoughts until I saw the one other girl on her way back... oh well. Top 5 was definitely in sight today. My time at turn around was just a tad over 11:00. Unless I got faster I would have to settle for a tad over 20:00... thats cool... I would get a PR. Finally there was the columns to mark the finish line. Stopped my watch and wow... I just ran my fastest 5k ever.
So the results are...
300 Meter Swim 5:22 T1 1:48 13.8 Mile Bike 43:28 T2 1:28 3.1 Mile Run 22:29 PR for the 5K
Total Time 1:14:38
1st 20-24 Age Group 2nd Women Overall... Next Year I'm Gonna Win It All 24th Combined Overall
Congrats to everyone who raced and survived today... we are all champs because we went out and did what we love... even if we were numb the whole time!
Today for the 5th straight year I went back to what was my first ever triathlon... The Athens Triathlon in Athens Texas! Between 2004 and 2007 I had experinced the thrill of doing an early season tri in the every weather condition but the cold. Well today I got to complete Athens in the freezing cold temps that the first weekend in March usually does not bring. At race start it was just above freezing... but with sunny skies!
I thought the swim was going to go well... it did until I hit the half way mark. I had just passed a few people in front of me when at the last few walls all I did was get smacked in the head and wasn't able to do my flip turns on the walls or under each lane line. Oh my goodness... I was going nuts. I was more than happy to see the last lane of the pool and was ready to hop out and get ready to freeze my butt off.
Transition was pretty slow. Put on the my pink long sleeve bike jersey, helmet, sunglasses, and shoes, got my bike off the rack and was off.
Not just did I pass several people on the bike, including Dave in the first three miles... but once I passed this one dude near the turn around no one passed me. Part of the roads were rough and part was smooth. Not matter what the surface... my legs were slow. I was ready to transition and get on the run... that is if I ever could find the turn into transition.
The second transistion was pretty slow. Again in the cold had a hard time getting my squeezeums pushed up to tighten my shoes.
Thank goodness for the run... my best leg of the tri today. There I was out there all alone on the going out section. A little flat mixed in with a little upgrade. The temps were PERFECT for a FAST run. I saw a few people in front of me and some of the elites coming back to the finish. I knew I wasn't the only girl out on the course but I had my thoughts until I saw the one other girl on her way back... oh well. Top 5 was definitely in sight today. My time at turn around was just a tad over 11:00. Unless I got faster I would have to settle for a tad over 20:00... thats cool... I would get a PR. Finally there was the columns to mark the finish line. Stopped my watch and wow... I just ran my fastest 5k ever.
So the results are...
300 Meter Swim 5:22
T1 1:48
13.8 Mile Bike 43:28
T2 1:28
3.1 Mile Run 22:29 PR for the 5K
Total Time 1:14:38
1st 20-24 Age Group
2nd Women Overall... Next Year I'm Gonna Win It All
24th Combined Overall
Congrats to everyone who raced and survived today... we are all champs because we went out and did what we love... even if we were numb the whole time!
Man... i Love This Sport :)
More to come...