Triathlon Weekend- (and the longest post I've ever written)

Sitting down to catch my breath....and going try to get caught  up on here tonight.....

So....first Triathlon of the season has come and gone!

Saturday.....my youngest participated in the Kids Of Steel Triathlon....and did an awesome job!

He came in 11th place out of 36 kids...and has hardly trained.

(I have to brag- right?;)

   Age Group: M8-9        #465 Ben R                  

Swim Time(200m): 3:18   Bike Time(5km): 18:38  Run Time(1km)6:14   

Total Time: 28:09.2

Super Proud of you Buddy!

~~~

The next day my alarm went off at 4am- but I was already up.

I'm not a sleeper~inner....especially on race days.

It was grey, rainy, windy, and looked a dismal day for racing.

Regardless of the weather....it was on.

My oldest and I ate a quick breakfast, loaded the bikes and gear into the truck,

and took off at the scheduled time of 5am.

Within mere minutes I could hear a strange sound coming from the back of the truck.

"Sounds like a flat"....my 16 year old calmly stated.

Calm wasn't my reaction.

I have never had a flat tire in all my days of driving.

21 years to be exact.

So of course all driver's education and training has long since dissipated.

Changing a tire, or even what to do when you're already miles from home ...isn't even 

on my driver-common-sense radar.

I whipped a U-Turn in the middle of the (dead at 5am) highway and drove 100km/hr (normal speed limit) back home.

Needless to say, (NOW I know...)  that wasn't the right thing to do. 

I guess your tire rim can be damaged driving with a flat.

Who knew?

(Kind of like not knowing lily pads grew flowers......

Pffft;)

Try stuffing two race bikes in the back of a mini-van.

When you're in panic mode.

And your bike is the most important of all things you own.

And you don't want it even scratched let alone bent up.

It was like a puzzle....and a puzzle that I wasn't up to at that particular moment.

I just have to say I'm very grateful for the Calm Persons of this world....

~~~

After all that chaos, we ended up at the transition set up only 15 minutes later than scheduled, and we found perfect spots on the rack for our bikes.

(I DO have to say that some people on race day can be quite.....what's the word? 

Oh yes.

Rude.)

I was just setting my bike into position, when a guy from a local Tri club threw a small purple hand towel right under my wheel, along with a bag containing a half rotten banana.

He was tyring to save MY SPOT for a friend.

Really people?

I got up before 4am, dealt with a flat, was drenched from pouring rain, only to be bumped out of a spot by a purple towel and a bagged banana?

Nu-uh.

I left my bike where it was, thinking I may have a confrontation on my hands in a bit....but fortunately keeping your mouth shut and leaving your bike hanging in its spot is the best method. 

He moved his "gear" about 45 minutes later.

I guess his friend found his own spot.....

Transition set up, chips on ankles, body markings done....

now we waited for our Swim Heats.

My son was in Heat 7- being that he was in the Junior Division.

I was in Heat 51.

He was finished his entire race before I even started mine.

Almost 3 hours of wait time beside the pool.

3 hours to wonder just why I decided to do this in the first place.

(Have I ever mentioned I'm a worrier? 

And that I think far too much?)

Making a long story a bit shorter now....

the race went well, and aside from 30km/hr winds on the bike, it went quite smoothly.

Oh.

Except for the part when I ran my bike back into transition area to begin my run, and I (still don't know how)....flipped over my handlebars in some sort of semi-sommersalt position.

All I can remember is hearing the GASP from the spectators as I slowly (ever notice how falls tend to happen in slow-mo?)

dropped to the pavement.

(Currently my elbow is swollen, gashed, bruised,

and I only have a few 3inch bruises on my leg.

I'm fine!

{Guess it's about time I quit typing and get on with race pics.}

My joke before it all was that I was out to beat my 16 year old son....

We were only 2 minutes apart in final time.

And he doesn't even train.

I on the other hand... have been getting up at 4am to fit enough miles on to my training schedule.

~it figures~

Division: M-JR        #986 Adam R                 

Swim (750m): 17:20    Bike (20km):49:34   Run(5km): 27:15 

Total Time: 1:34:08.3

~~

 

#283 Dawn R         

Swim (750m):14:44   Bike (20km):49:12   Run(5km): 28:27 

Total Time:  1:32:21.8

Place Overall:27/108    Placed in Age Division:8/36
~~~

Thanks Ad!

I had an awesome day with you....even though we didn't race "together".

And although I feel wiped that I train 6 days a week at 4am, 

and you just "have it without even trying"...

I'm SUPER proud of you.

(and a bit envious:)

But remember...I still beat you by 2 minutes;)

Maybe next year?

:)

~~~~

Next up: 

my Olympic~distance Triathlon

in less than 3 weeks.

Here's to more 4 in the morning training sessions....