Today I had a race. I know – I didn’t talk about it much but there it was – Tri for Fun! And so I did try for fun and it worked – fun was had. This race had its ups and it had its downs but overall I’m happy with the results and I guess since I’ve never done this distance before I PR’d. So
After the flat the other day I was nervous, particularly since at about 5:30 PM yesterday I checked my rear tire and it was flat – FLAT! I freaked out OMG! What is wrong with my bike!! I ran down to the bike store and got 2 new tires and 2 new tubes and came home and thought “No No No – you DO NOT switch tires the night before a race”. I took the rear tire off, inspected it closely and found no tears or holes so I just replaced the tube. Then I discovered that when I changed my flat on Sunday I neglected to replace the nut that holds the valve tight to the rim. I hoped that was the problem. I pumped up both tires and crossed my fingers.
As always I woke up at 4:30 wondering what the hell I was doing. I mean come on – it’s Saturday! Why in the world would I want to get up, put my bike in the car and then go subject myself to a swim. bike, run experience? I mean WHY!? I always feel that way before and event and it always takes getting to the finish to remember.
I had 2 choices to start – I could go out with the ‘competitve’ people who knew what they were doing or I could go out, 4 waves later with the women 37 and up. I fretted. I just knew – KNEW! that if I went out with the first wave I would still be out there looking for a buoy when the next wave cruised past me. I was wrong. My swim was just fine and I even passed people!! Go me!
Then the bike. Harumph. I need work on the bike. My computer was all screwed up (no doubt due to changing flats) and the speed would go from 8 mph to 15 miph to 11 to 10 to 16 – I had no idea. What I did know was that I got passed by probably every single guy in the 19- 36 age group (not to mention the ones in committed relationships) and at least 1/2 the guys from the 37 and up age group . This made me grumpy and I kind of wanted to pull a Stadler but I did my best to channel that energy into pedaling harder and going I have no idea how much faster.
And then, about 8 miles into an 11 mile ride I heard the sound I was in dread fear of – pssssffffft. Damn! But then it turned out to be a truck on the other side of the road releasing the air brakes – HUZZAH! I was still in the game.
The run was not bad. The weather was a little warm but not killer and I ran the whole thing, no problema. I got passed by a few more guys and then a few of the younger women started passing me and I hated that because I had a 15 minute head start on them – grrr.. But then the most magic thing of all happened – I passed someone! And then I passed someone else. Woo Hoo! Good thing I’m no Stadler.
Coming in on the home stretch there was a younger woman just ahead of me. I thought about kicking it and passing her and then I thought “no – I can’t” and then… and then I thought ‘HELL YES!” and I kicked it and passed her in the last 50 yards because what I really wanted, and what I got was to come in under the timer at exactly 1.25:00. Go me.
Estimated stats:
400 yd Swim + part of T1 – 8:02 (~2 min/100 yard)
Rest of T1 – ??? maybe 2:30 ?
10.34 mile -Bike – 39:30 (give or take a few seconds, it was supposed to be 11 miles) = 15.77 mph
T2 – 2:42 (really need to work on that)
3.2 mile run – 31:52 (~ 10 min/mile)
This event has no official time and no places – it’s for fun. And it was! It did, however raise some doubt in my mind about doing this Olympic distance event on August 12. I really want to focus on my “A” race on Sept 19, particularly since it just got a littler A-er. I’ll explain that in another post.
Next up – SF 1/2 Marathon next Sunday.
Then an Oly on 8/12
Then my “A” race.
I have no idea how I can train for these things but I”ll manage something.
This is what you get when you are a bad planner.
*final note – the little magnet on my rear spokes was at an angle, up away from the sensor. I fixed it.
21st-century-mom.com 
Fantastic!!! isn’t it amazing how when we KNOW something for sure, it turns out we DON’T KNOW NUTHIN’??
Go you!!
omg that is too much! i read this late last night but didn’t remember the part about smokin’ the young un… go us! we have mind meld!
Great job. It sounds like you did fine. That’s a great way to do a tri. Think of me when you do the half – I wish that I was there. Have a great time on that beautiful course.
well cool! See? you DO know what you are doing! Go you!
Woo HOO! Go you.
You’re starting to be the bike mechanic! They can get away from you maintenance-wise if you let them….great race – you’ll find the time to train, don’t worry!
Yeah for YOU! Glad you PR’d and had a great time too!
I have a “fun” tri coming up in a few weeks as well and really looking forward to it. I have had problems with my back tire – but am not nearly as handy as you. That is the part I dread – a flat!
I have a “fun” tri coming up in a few weeks as well and really looking forward to it. I have had problems with my back tire – but am not nearly as handy as you. That is the part I dread – a flat!
you need a young’un stamp for your red baron bike.
Did you know there is another 21st century mum? over in the UK (hence mum, not mom). i met her when my show hit her town earlier this year. anyway this is her blog – it’s rather good!
http://21stcenturymummy.blogspot.com/
Whoot, whoot! Go, 21CMom!! You did awesome!!
I got all tense when you heard the phfft sound!
Good evening 21CMom. Thanks for popping over the ocean to visit my blog. Great to meet you and yes, it looks like we may have been separated at birth 😉
However, you appear to have taken all the fitness genes leaving me lacking and wow, what you achieve is amazing. As for me, I am celebrating after my first 22 lengths of the pool today (the first time toes have been dipped into the water in about 2 years)!
As well as your content, I just love your blog header, it’s fabulous. If you ever fancy doing a guest post on my blog, let me know…it would be great to hook up on that.
(…and thanks Cruella for the signposting – come back to Bury soon).
Yay!! Sounds like a super tri. I love this line in your post: As always I woke up at 4:30 wondering what the hell I was doing
Haven’t we all been there????
HA.
Great stuff lately. Really. As you know I am a bit behind in my blogging so I got about a dozen of yours at once. Great on the race, you beat 90 mins!!!
The mag cover cracks me up.
HA.
Great stuff lately. Really. As you know I am a bit behind in my blogging so I got about a dozen of yours at once. Great on the race, you beat 90 mins!!!
The mag cover cracks me up.
Many congrats , spending an hour or two with tri friends and a bottle or two of a nice chardonnay doing a changing tires and tubes should be on your training schedule.
Awesome event well done now the next step then the next then the next and before you know it you will be hitting the submit button for getting the tattoo race LOL