Monday, June 28, 2010

I LOVE the Tavern, really I do!

Okay, I have to say it again, I LOVE the Tavern. Seriously, it was the best time, and, although I wish my biking were way stronger, I feel like I performed pretty well.

Rewind to last year, the James River did this goofy crest the morning of the race right before we got in. Think endless pool for the current and water higher then it was safe for us to swim in. But in we intrepid triathletes went and many, many rescues were needed by participants. Thank goodness for Chesterfield county police and the kayakers there to help everyone.

Fast forward to yesterday. Laurie had it changed to a totally down river swim, so even if a situation like last year occurred it would only help us, I personally was praying for that to happen so we could all swim like Michael Phelps hahaha, anyway as we were getting in, my swim goggles snapped at the side and needed to be fixed. I was like, my freakin goggles broke really??? Then I hear over the megaphone, Purple caps, one minute, one minute to go. I was thinking this is going to suck to have to swim without goggles for 750 meters in murky river water. But, as luck would have it, I managed to thread the goggles back together, get in the water, find a starting position and next thing you know, you heard the go siren. I would have liked to position myself better, but oh well. I swam pretty well, I could have gone a little harder in hind sight, but you know how the old saying goes...

I got out of the water, flew up the stairs, and ran into transition. No walking, no jogging, I ran, crossed the timing mat and ran to my bike. I have to admit I did have a little trouble clipping in, but once I was in I was off. The bike is the only part of my race I knew would be lacking. I have had minimal saddle time, and it showed. I managed to finish 6 minutes plus faster then last year, but still, if I had been riding more I could have broken an hour. Still, comparing apples to apples I did manage a better bike, but it should have been better then that even.

I managed some fairly okay transitions, that's free time so I really need to get better at those. No hard training necessary to gain an extra 30 seconds or minute, but they weren't unduly long so that is really good for me.

I did run faster then last year by a minute. Considering all I have been through with my running, and how training has been a long process getting back to any speed for me, the fact that I had a sub 29 minute 5k was very pleasing. I know I can't compare my last triathlon run to this one, but since they were both 5ks, although as different as night and day, I did better then that too by about a half of a minute. Yay, that makes me smile...My training is paying off with my run :)

So there's my recap of my race. Less then stellar compared to some, I'd love to say I finished first in my age group, I'd love to say I was the best of the best of the best SIR, I'd love to not wish I had done this a little faster, or that a little better, but given all I have gone through healthy wise and other wise, I'd have to say, I love the Tavern.

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