It's Over or Vt. Sun Tri Report

Phew!  I was quite worried about this in spite of saying I was ready.

Thanks everyone for the messages of support on my last post!

As I was packing last nightI smashed the toe I have injured several times and knew it would be sore today. One more small thing to worry about. I immediately stopped and iced it so it was okay but I did notice it.

They put those buoys so far away.

There was a sprint and an Olympic tri today and they were well attended so there was a lot going on.  I must admit I like it when there are races of different distances.  There is more to watch and I can look at THEIR swim course and think, "Okay, at least my course is much shorter than that one."  But always always this course looks so long to me.  I was in the last wave and before I knew it we were off.  I seemed to be doing okay.  There were a lot of buoys and I just concentrated on getting to the next one.  There were people around me - yay - and people behind me - yay!  (Not to be mean to them but you get it.)  I still am not able to do much free style even though the breathing feels better. So I did some but I mostly did breast stroke.  If I found myself getting nervous about my breathing I had a song I would sing (in my head of course) and once I counted strokes for awhile.  Both helped.  I never had to get on my back or had that complete panic feeling. A huge win. When I came out I looked at my watch and it was right on what I typically swim this race in so I was thrilled.

I was 134/157.  Not DFL at all.  

Transition 1 was quicker than usual.  I am never fast here but there were improvements!

This is afterwards.  It was tricky finding my bike.

It was crowded but if you come out of the swim

late, not so bad.  Look at me finding the 

positives to that slow swim.

Then oh yeah, it was biking time! And I was behind many many people. I started passing right away.  One guy I passed told me I should feel great as he started swimming 4 minutes before me and here I was passing him on the bike.  It was actually 6 minutes before me, he was 31 and  in the first wave.  Way to make me feel good!  I had people to pass the whole course. Sometimes it isn't very crowded and there are just a few spots to pass people or it is half way before I catch up with people.  More beginners?  I counted - I passed 39 people.  You may laugh at my counting but it is very motivating to me. I can see them ahead and I know I can pass them.  This doesn't happen to me running or swimming so I love it.  One woman passed me back (I knew her too) but then I passed her again.  There is a long hill (where she passed me - I am not good on hills). When I came in I glanced at my time and was quite sure it was the fastest I have done the bike in the 5 times I have raced this.  (IT WAS!)  Yes, I broke 50 minutes which I hadn't done. When I've been practicing I've been over an hour.  Yikes!  Loved, loved the bike.
 I was 84/157. So close to being in top half! Very pleased with this.

Transition 2 was okay. I was trying to get my Garmin to work but just threw it in my bag. It wasn't worth the time although I do like the mile splits.

I could see by the well marked course that I was doing fine.  My run time was comparable to what it has been the other times I have done this. So much better than my slow walk/run two weeks ago.  I was so worried about a swim panic and having a sick feeling for the rest of the course and I am so grateful this didn't happen.  Some people passed me here, including my friend, but not 39 people so I made some ground on the bike for sure.
I was 104/157.  

I got second in my age but there were only 3.  I was 105/157 overall, similar to my run.

The woman who was first in my age group beat my by 7 minutes. But I was closer than usual to her.  I was barely behind her bike time and I used to be way behind.  My run was barely behind.  She is faster on transitions. And man she kills me on the swim.  I taught her daughter many years ago and do know her.  I beat the woman behind me in my age group by 20 minutes. Big gaps in this age group for sure!

Trying to set up a picture and the cat photo bombs again.

Overall I am happy and once again eager to do more tris.