I had stated last week, rather emphatcially that I was done with triathlon for the season – and I meant it. Except I was sort of maybe thinking I’d do this sprint distance race on Sunday. It just seemed like it might be nice to end the season some other way than coming in 9 out of 9 in my age group and this was sure to be a great event because it’s put on by the same people who do Wildflower. It is the same sort of 3 day extravaganza with packet pickup and an Expo on Friday, a longer race on Saturday that is part of the Wall to Wall Series and includes pro athletes, and a shorter distance race Sunday. Fun, fun!

Then I wasn’t sure I really wanted to toss my retirement for the season but I figured I could sign up on-site on Saturday if I felt so moved when I went to watch some other women in my team race the Olympic distance event.

Then a big container ship scraped up against the Bay Bridge and dumped 58,000 gallons of fuel in the bay. That’s a lot of nasty, oily, volatile fuel. It is washing up on the shore over in the western most parts of the Bay and in Marin and fouling everything. TriCal is still hopeful that this muck will stay out of the little Treasure Island cove the swim is being held in (which is east of the original spill) but I wouldn’t go in that water right now. I have no use for a duathlon which is probably what the race will turn in to so it’s off for me and I’m glad. I’ve done 12 events this year and I have a 5K still on the schedule for an even 13 and that’s enough. Or maybe I’ll need one more to make it an even number but if so it will probably be a 5K or a 10K or a thumb twiddling contest.

I’m heart broken about the fuel spill, though. Those things tend to foul up the marine life for a long time and that’s not good. Not good at all.