The quickie referring to the fact that this was a sprint. My race reports are NEVER quick.
Official results are not up, so here's the info from my trainingpeaks log:
Swim: 1:23 pace
Bike: 21.1 mph
Run: 9:18
Finish time: 1:38:03
Last year: 1:46:50
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Update: I ended up coming in 3rd place with a time of 1:36:01.
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Before the race even began, I knew it was going to be a great day. The women in the 45-49 AG are so incredible. We had so much fun. They are all incredible athletes and great people. Every time I go, I ended up meeting another woman who ends up being a great training partner for me.
I don't even know where to start.
RACE REPORT
It was an incredible morning. I ran into a few women from other races and from a couple of open water swims. I've made the rounds this year, splitting my time between BAM swims (in Boulder), Grant Ranch & Chatfield. I've had the incredible opportunity to swim with some awesome people.
The Swim
I didn't hit my 1:10 pace, but I had a great swim. It wasn't my fastest, but it was BY FAR my best pacing yet.
We start. Remember my focus SWIM STRONG, PULL HARD. When we took off, I saw the frantic swimmers. They bolted out of the gate. I held my ground. I let them criss cross and swim all crazy like. I just swam, strong. I wanted to pick up the pace before halfway and not make the mistake I did at Rocky. This needed to be really uncomfortable.
Before we got to the first buoy (the first turn), I saw the crowd dropping off. I didn't care where they were, but I suspected they went too hard and were behind me. I passed the women in the previous wave. When I hit the first buoy, I started to turn on more speed....I mean....more POWER, kick kick kick.....not my legs, that's my mantra to remind myself to really PUSH the water at the end of my stroke, really kick it. BOOM KICK BOOM KICK. POWERFUL. All my little swim mantras.
Then, I caught the over 40 men (the slowest swimmers). i glanced to my right....no more yellow swim caps. Then, I saw one ahead of me. I was going to catch her. I don't care how old she is; I will pass her.
And I did. I got out of the water, ripped off my wetsuit and RAN up that damn hill in the sand. I didn't see another yellow swim cap. I kept saying, "They are RIGHT BEHIND YOU, RUN!"
It gave me1st AG on the swim. I know this because I got to transition, and no one was there. 15 seconds later....the woman next to me was there.
She says, "Well, that was an interesting swim with the choppy water." (Personally, I didn't notice any choppy water, but I'm thinking, "HOLY CRAP WHO ARE YOU? THE BIONIC WOMAN? HOW'D YOU KEEP UP WITH ME?")
"I'd love to chat, but I gots to go if I want to stay ahead of you."--I thought to myself.
I grabbed my bike, and I was out of there like someone lit me on fire.
THE BIKE
Still a learning process. I actually thought I did a great job until I got home and looked at the numbers. Then, Coach emailed me and said, "Not a bad day at all. SOLID EFFORT. Work in progress"....which is almost exactly what I said to her.
Did I hit threshold? UGH. NO. Well, I did and even went over, but I wasn't consistent. I'm getting better. Each time, I figure out something new.
The BIG thing I learned today was that the drink I brough (new flavor) WAS NASTY ON THE BIKE. Too sweet. But I drank the whole thing down.
The thing that I really good at on the bike is saying "I'm going to catch THAT person", and I always do. I want to get there on the run. I want to be able to say, "I'm going to catch that person" and then actually catch them.
But I have other work to do on my run before I get there.
I got to transition, and there's no one there.
THE RUN
I PR'd the run, and I'm really happy about it. It's my fastest run off the bike. The only real disappointing thing was that I forgot my heart rate monitor. I've been using it as a reminder that I can run harder when my body is saying, "MEH, I'm feeling a little tired." I didn't have that. Still, I PR'd the run, but I definitely didn't do the best that I could have done.
The good news is that I really don't mind the discomfort now that I know how I'm supposed to feel when I'm running off the bike.
It's win in my book.
I WILL SUM UP
I've accomplished some really great things in a short period of time. In fact, I'm shocked at some of the differences. Those are the things that don't show up in finish times. I can't thank Coach Liz enough for everything she has taught me this year. Most importantly, she understands how much I want to learn and has been so patient in answering my questions...even those times when I'm not really sure WHAT I'm trying to ask.
I don't know what next year will hold for me, but I'm so excited to work with her next year and see all the pieces really start to fit together.
P.S.--I owe you all an update on Mr. Tea's training. Suffice to say, Liz is kicking his ass too. :)