An Age Group Winner in my Second Triathlon - REALLY!

There's my age.......didn't stay on though.

Okay I'm starting with the nitty gritty. Then onto the report.  Yes, I was an age group winner!  It's great being older!  

A Goal: 1:48:40

B Goal: 1:53:00

C Goal: 159:59

I hit that A goal out of the park.  1:40:58!!!!! Can you say Woot Woot!  92/117 

Swimming ............20 minutes. 14:31 - (lightning fast in my world.  I still don't get this.  I am counting right in my pool.  It is a 25 yard pool and I do 24 laps for 600 yards.  Takes me forever.) 97/117

Biking......53 minutes. 51:09 84/117 (includes 3 DNF)

Running 30:15. 29:55 86/117 (my biking beat my running :) :)

T1 3:40.  3:34 ( beat this one too but barely)

T2  1:45. 1:51 Oops

So I beat all my goals but T2.  I am very happy with all of this. I was pleased with my second tri even before I knew the results.  I know in the big scheme of things I am far from the top but WTHC!!!!!

Okay on to the report that I wrote yesterday while waiting for the results.

Today's tri was the one I hoped to be doing for the second time so I could compare my results from June and now.  As sprint tris are all quite different I can see I will have to go back next year and do some of the same ones for a true comparison to see how I have grown.

I do know that had I not broken my wrist in June and done this tri I would not have been as prepared as I was today.  When I broke my wrist I had not even taken my wet suit out of the package it arrived in 3 months earlier.  Today not only had I done one other tri, I had come to Lake Dunmore 4 different times, 3 of them doing the complete  tri.  Well sort of.

Most people are looking forward. I'm still looking at the

@#$%% distance I have to swim.

I walk as far as I can.

Very happy to be done the swim!  

I found out today that I have not been swimming the full 600 yards.  When I walked down to the water and looked at the buoys it was hard to know the course because there was also a half Ironman distance race going on and I didn't know which buoys were which.  My husband pointed out what he thought it might be (turned out he was right).  I asked a guy who looked like he had a clue and he told me the same thing my husband had told me. I politely thanked him but as we walked away I quietly told my husband with complete sincerity and belief, "He's wrong. It can't be that far." Well, you can see where this is going, he wasn't wrong and we had to swim ALL that way.  So some more panic set in! I was so glad I had that one other triathlon under my belt.  I was wearing a watch, all set to do all the sections but I didn't think about it until I  was well into the swim. So I did not know how I was doing.  I did do the free style more than in the last tri for sure which was one of my goals although the breast stroke and side stroke made their appearances again.  I did a pretty decent job with sighting when I was doing the free style only needing to readjust my direction one time.  Finally I was around that last big buoy headed into shore.  My husband and my friend, T, were there cheering me in!  I yelled and asked them how long I took.  They didn't really know but the estimate wasn't bad.

Can you see me? I am off on the bike.

My transition wasn't terribly fast but I didn't forget my chip again and got headed off.  This was the part I was looking forward to.  It seemed like last time where no one was around me. I did pass one person in the first mile but I didn't see any other bikes for a long time. I settled in to my ride - other races in sight or not - and just kept pushing. Once on a downhill I started to coast but quickly reminded myself to keep on pedaling!  Once I was on Route 7 around Mile 6 I could see other bikes in the distance.  Now the fun really began. It took awhile but I caught up and passed the rider - on - a - hill! This was feeling like my last tri.  The other cyclists were a ways ahead but I knew I had already done some significant catching up.  Many were younger and had actually started two minutes ahead of me.  So one by one I passed all the cyclists I could see.  I passed about 4 on Route 7 and then we were on the road with the long steep hill and I wasn't sure if my passing would continue. But it did! I passed about another 4 people and then I was on the last stretch of about 3 miles.  I could see one more person and managed to get by her before I turned into the park - where I had to go on the grass because of cars!  I glanced at my bike computer before I got off and I could see my pace was great and my time shorter than I had thought!  My pace was 16.4 which is the fastest I have ever done!  I got my shoes changed and off I went to run.

Heading out on the run.

And back!

Finished!  Surprised at my time knowing I can subtract 6 

minutes or more.

I felt sloshy and full from the water I gulped down.  It seemed harder than ever to run and I wasn't expecting a great time.  I passed a few people but I have to admit some of the people I passed on the bike caught up and passed me on the run.  Once we turned around though I could see there were more people behind me than I thought.  Then I was coming into the finish and done my second triathlon!  I cannot wait to do this again!  What a great sport it is.

Hanging out with T after.

One big bummer......when I was packing up to go I thought my bike shoes were different but there were no others around.  I brought them home, they fit although maybe a tad small and the clips work. But after looking at pictures closely I can see they are not the shoes I rode on the bike which were absolutely my shoes!  Has this ever happened to anyone?   I have emailed the race director although I don't have high hopes.  I so see how it can happen with the minimal space you get and the obvious hurrying you do as you switch between sports.  

Also - did not need my email. I was not signed up as I suspected but race director totally believed me and I had everything needed in no time.

I love love love triathlons and if you are thinking of trying them go for it. A year ago I never would have believed I would ever do one to say nothing about immensely enjoying them.