Right On The Money!!

Okay.  So it was a small race.  I won't deny that.  Don't know the final tally, but let's just say it's less than half the size of my age group for IMC (280 btw, the largest female AG in the race).  Somewhere between 100-150.  Maybe less showed up, not sure.  Having said that, you can see from looking at prior year's results that the top 2-3 women are competitive, and the rest are just there to do it (and good for them!).  Not a lot different for the men, although with more of them, a few more are competitive.   Of course, you never know who is going to show up on race day, but if the past is any indication of the future, I knew that if I didn't place in the top three, I probably wouldn't be happy.  (and note of caution as I have just finished this and previewed it...it is ridiculously long...)

So we get there on Saturday, and go for a practice swim.  We never did end up doing a bike/run like I usually do the day before the race.  Time just got away from us.  Went out to see if we could check out "the beast" on the bike course...and man oh man...you know I get motion sickness, and these roads...prime conditions for it.  By the time we got back - and we actually took a wrong turn and didn't even see the beast - I was feeling so ill, all I could think was "this is not good the day before a race".  But, by the time I got some salad down at dinner, I was feeling back to normal.  At any rate, when we all realized JUST how small this race was going to be...seriously worried about getting lost on the course!  Turned out to be a few more than  we thought, but not by much.

After dinner, went back to the hotel, and we agreed we'd meet at the race site around 6:45.  Ya, seriously.  I mean, how weird - I'm used to more like a 4am wakeup call on race day!  So I set my alarm(s) for 5:30 and beyond.  Slept pretty well, which is not always the case the night before the race, waking up only a few times.  When I woke at 5am (there's that damn SFMasters effect at work again!) I shot out of bed, running into the bathroom saying "OMG the alarms didn't go off!!".  It took a good few minutes to realize...oh, that's because it's not the right time yet!  Pretty funny really.  I laid down for another 30 minutes, and then started to get ready.

The race meeting was pretty funny - he kept going on about "there will be Sheriffs out there, but it is still your obligation to check first...sharp turns...safety...crossing two lanes..." which honestly was starting to make me nervous, so I just stopped listening.  Honestly, I was more worried about making a wrong turn with so few racers...  And then the on-and-on description of the swim course - I mean, seriously - there's only ever one instruction you need on the swim course - keep the buoys on the right (or left as the case may be) - again, just stopped listening!

It was a time trial start surprisingly.  We all stood together for a few minutes waiting, and then Rod, of course, true to form, ran up to the front and went before the rest of us.  First leg was pretty good for sighting, I was pretty much bang on.  Second leg, not so much.  Must have been some small wind/current, enough that I was drifting to the left.  Plus, I couldn't see any buoys, but thankfully all the swim caps were yellow, so I just followed them.  With such a small race, you wouldn't think you'd get the typical man-handling of the big races, but it still happened!  Not as rough or as bad...but still a triathlon swim!!  Tried to compensate a little with a stronger right pull.  Got behind the island, and finally saw the buoy, and of course lost whatever wind it was pushing me left and now I was practically running into the shore.  In fact this might have been a bonus as I may have had a straighter line to swim than others.  There really was no life in the lake to speak of - no fish, no plants...at one point I suddenly saw these big long tentacles reaching out of the water towards me and had a mini heart attack, until the brain kicked in and realized it was a tree underwater...lol.  I felt reasonably strong in the water.  Heard Tracy a few times saying "you're swimming flat again Katrina".  Did a reasonably good job I think of maintaining my form.  Wetsuit was a struggle for me as always - tires me out.  But I got done, and was pretty surprised to see 33 minutes on the watch.  I'm sure the course had to be a little short, because while I've improved, it's not by that much.

Two odd things happened coming out of the swim - my calves hurt, which I've never experienced before either racing or in training; and, I was so off balance once I got to my bike, I could barely stand, again, never experienced this in racing before.  Now clearly, the transition was VERY close to the swim exit...but I've had at least one transition that was the same.  So not sure if I was just expending more energy this time in the swim, or what.  At any rate, my transition was longer than it should've been (this is my specialty after all!!) but I got on my way.

So I had left my aero bottle in the sink at home...bad...leaving me a bottle short on the bike.  I decided to obviously bring the three nutrition bottles and pick up water on the course.  Unfortunately, 1 bottle ejected on the speed bumps before I'd even left the park...I knew I'd be in potential trouble...but nothing I could do.  Thankfully I'd snagged an extra gel from Z in transition that morning.  So off I went.  I passed two girls at around mile 2 or 3, one shortly after the other.  I found myself in a small pack of guys for the next 8 miles or so.  Some guys are funny in races - they just can't stand to be passed by a woman.  "Chicked" as Jen says.  There were about 3 of "those guys" in this particular pack.  So whatever, I'm not going to let them slow me down.  One was the worst of all in a red and white Hammer kit.  I passed him a couple of times, neither time did I have to actually try hard to pass, I just was faster.  Each time he had to pass me back.  But each time he would pass, he'd slow down again as soon as he passed me.  ARGH !!!!  On my 4th pass by him, I just looked at him and said "Hey dude, I don't care if you pass me because you're faster, but stop passing me and slowing down as soon as you get in front".  For the non-triathletes out there, wondering why this is such a big deal - we are not allowed to draft in races.  This means that you need to leave a certain distance (usually 3-4 bike lengths) between bikes, and as soon as someone passes you (they have a limited time to do this), you are required to drop back that distance prior to trying to overtake them again, or face a drafting penalty.

Once we got to the "Beast", that group lost me.  I'm not a fast climber (yet).  At the top of the Beast was the first aid station, and I asked the guy how many girls had already passed.  He said something I didn't hear completely (keep in mind I am not actually stopping, I'm riding and grabbing), but something about you're the first one, but the way he said it, I thought he was bs'ing me.  Besides, I guess I couldn't really believe I was the lead female.  Small race or not.

This was a tough course with a lot of climbing.  The downhills were also fast, and several had sharp turns at the bottom, some with gravel.  A lot of the course I was on my own.  I am pretty sure I saw more cows than racers.  I caught up to Rod about mile 37.  Shortly after that, there was a guy standing at the bottom of his drive, cheering us on.  He shouted to me "looking strong!" and I asked him how many girls so far, and he said - you are the first one I've seen, I've been here about 15 minutes.  So I was like, seriously?  Well, I think I can be pretty sure no-one is more than 15 minutes ahead of me, so maybe I am the lead female...!!??  There was one turn on the course that was not manned (at least not when I was there).  I seriously didn't know if I'd gone the right way or not.  The road markings had been there, and a car was in the small church parking lot, but no-one was there.  The ziploc bag in the middle of the road just after the turn seemed promising, but then I saw a rider coming the opposite way.  For a minute I thought maybe there was an out and back section, and I kept waiting to see Chris pass me since I knew he'd be out somewhere in the front...but he never did, and neither did anyone else...I probably lost a minute or two on that road with my hesitation and lost focus...and there was a hell of a downhill on the back end that I thought, damn if I've gone the wrong way that is gonna be a hike to get back up...finally a stop sign loomed ahead, and thankfully a state trooper.  Round about mile 44, who do I come across but red and white Hammer dude.  By this time, I was thinking to myself that I have not been pushing hard enough.  So I think, okay, this is it then, I am passing this dude, and he will not pass me again.  So I went, and I left him in my dust.  That's what you get for being a jackrabbit - steady even power will get you a lot further, so to all the men with egos - go ahead and keep doing what you are doing, us chicks will always win in the end.  From that point forward, I pretty much laid into it.  I probably should have been going harder sooner - but I'm still figuring all that out.  Total time for the bike was 2:57, which is certainly not my best bike split ever by a long shot, but this was definitely the toughest bike I've done in a race.   18.1 mph avg, which I'd like to see a little higher by the time I get to IMC.  Other 70.3's have been 20-21 avg.  For IMC I'd be quite happy with around 19.

I get into transition, and it's a quick in and out, and I'm off on the run.  I'm feeling good at this point.  With my two bottles of Infinit and two gels on the bike, I've probably had enough calories, but not sure I've had enough water.  And I know I haven't had enough salt, but there isn't anything I can do about it, and I just hope I can hold out for 13 miles.  I passed Z coming in off the bike as I was making the first turn on the run.  I was like 'what?' and all he said was 'I crashed'.  I shouted was he okay, and he said yes.  So I went back to my run.  It was an out and back double loop.  The first mile was nice and shady, and I was thinking ok, this won't be too bad.  That didn't last long.  Most of it ended up being in the full sun, and it was WAY hillier than the profile showed.  My first out leg on the dam, and I pass Kevin - in 2nd place!!! - and he tells me you are first.  Amazing, those guys out there were right - I really am in first.  OK.  So this is mine to lose.  My plan was to run about an 8:40 pace, and then pick it up in the last 30 minutes to an 8:00-8:15.  This is how I've been training, and training well.  Now, it was hot - very hot - hotter than I've been running in.  High 80's and by the end it was 90.  First leg was very good. Was running an 8:20 pace.  I knew this would come down slightly when I did the biggest uphill on the way back.  Every aid station, I just took the water and dumped it to cool myself.  All the way back to the start, and then start the second loop.  Passed Z at that same first turn, at which point I was at an 8:40 overall pace, and feeling okay.  A little tired, and I knew I needed salt.  Z didn't have any.  Nor did any of my teammates.  I had done one gel on the first loop at 30 minutes in, and at 1:15 tried a second.  I got it half done, and just couldn't take anymore in.  Had a massive cramp under my right ribs on the way down the run's "beast", to the point where it was actually bringing tears to my eyes.  Thankfully I was able to breathe it out.  The course layout had its advantages, as I was able to pass by my teammates several times.  Always nice to cheer on your mates, and be cheered by them.  Thanks guys for all the awesome encouragement!!  I was definitely slowing down, but determined to keep the lead.  The next woman was about 4-5 minutes behind me, and the gap was staying pretty consistent.  On the last time I passed her, she waved at me and said "you've got this! I'm relay!".  A relief on one hand, but maybe would've been better for my competitive nature not to know that.  The last three miles really hurt.  Hurt bad.  I had to walk a few times, and my plan of a faster final 30 was not to be.  It took everything just to keep going.  I definitely needed salt, and with it, I believe I would have gone about 3-5 minutes faster.  I even resorted to throwing water on my face and licking the salty water off my lips!  At any rate, I finished, and in my fastest 70.3 run to date.  1:57.  Should've had the salt, it's my own fault.  But it is a good lesson learned.

And so yes, small race, but nevertheless, as Mo said a victory is a Victory!  First Overall Female.  Very exciting for me.  And in a time - 5:27 - that is respectable enough to feel it is legitimate.  And also makes me feel really great that it was Z's first OA placement for one of his athletes!  Woohoo!  And Team Sport Factory did well overall - Kevin with a 2nd overall placement, James with first AG.  And Rod and Jim also finishing well.  Not so great about the weekend - Chris was leading the race at 50 miles into the bike when he was hit by a car.  Thank GOD he is okay, though the bike is not.  Amazingly, he finished the race, and absolutely deserves Coach Tracy's newly formed HTFU award.








After I called to tell him of my win, David asked me if I was therefore now the "beast of the east".  LOL.  And funnily so did Marc on Monday.  He has now resorted to calling me The Beast every time I walk into PMO Row.  Ah well, it is great to have support, and I wouldn't want it any other way!  Thanks guys.

So great race, with yet more lessons.  Salt salt salt.  (sound familiar Richard?) and I still have to find that point where I am giving everything I can give on the bike.  I'm sure I am still holding back too much, afraid I won't have enough left on the run.  The bright side is - looks like I was able to put out a good performance following last weekend's ride and the last training block.  Seems my training is right on the money!

Long post, I know, so I will let it go at that, and write more later.  Thanks for reading...those of you that finished!  Hopefully you've had a glass of wine to go with it.

Happy Training!
Kat