Laurie and I did indeed leave LA at 4:00am Friday morning and pulled into the campground around 8:30. The trip was uneventful, which was perfect. We found our team and chilled out ... worked on crossword puzzles and read trashy magazines. If I had a bed, I would have napped. I took my bike out for a little spin just to make sure everything was working okay. It was. After lunch we went down to pick up our "stuff" -- race numbers, chip, etc, and to check out the lake and do short swim. It was all good ... the water was calm and not too cold.
After a quick trip through the Expo (where I spotted Macca) it was time for dinner. I had hoped to get all my numbers on and nutrition ready before dinner, but it had to wait until after which stressed me out a bit. It all worked out though, and I was in "bed" by 9:00 or so. The campground quieted down around 10:00, and I got a decent night of sleep.
I was up at 5:00. It was dark and cold. I did all my normal pre race things ... coffee, bathroom, breakfast, etc., but outside with hundreds of people around. Not ideal. I headed down to the transition area with the team at about 6:45am. The first wave went off at 8:00, but my race didn't start until 9:25. Lots of time to wait and worry. I had planned to eat more once I got my transition area set up, but all I could manage was half a banana and some Odwalla Super Food green juice. I used the porta potties about six times.
The Swim
I was nervous, as I always am on race day, but I felt ready. As a team, we had been practicing mass starts and drafting. Normally, I wait for the crowd to take off and then just swim, doing my best to avoid ALL contact. Drafting is legal in the swim, and I have been told there is a great benefit to it. So I decided to give it a try. I wasn't out front, but I did try to keep up with the group. I did for a bit, but then I couldn't settle into my own rhythm. So I stopped for just a second, caught my breath, and settled into a groove. I did draft off one woman for a while, and I didn't stop every time I got bumped by someone. I am making progress! All went well until the very end. In addition to my race, the Long Course, there was also a sprint distance race. They started their swim while we were in the water. Since they had a shorter swim, many of those swimmers were finishing at the same time I was. At one point I looked up and saw all these swimmers in front of me. Many of them were stopped. I had no idea what was going on (I didn't pay any attention to their race start times), but I kept swimming. It was a nightmare. There were people doing the backstroke and side stroke about 25 yards from shore. And some people were just completely stopped. Two people were having a conversation! What the hell? Finally, I was finished and made my way up the ramp, to my bike. My swim time was about 5 minutes faster than last year, but I lost a few of those minutes fighting with my wetsuit. I think it's time for a new one. I can barely get it over my calves.
The Bike
Again, the sprint racers (on mountain bikes) were in my way. Many of them were unsure and unstable on their bikes. Some were kids, some were turning around, looking for friends and stopping. Now, I am all for beginners having their day, but really? They had to be in my wave? I am already starting in the last wave, and the bike cut off is the same for everybody in the race, whether you start at 8:00 or 9:25, we all have to be off the bike at 2:45. So, not only do they give me 1:25 less time than the pros and young men, but they also throw a few obstacles in my way! This is one reason why I won't race Wildflower again.
Anyhoo, we only shared the course for a short time, and I quickly got over my annoyance and settled into a groove. I saw the pros coming in as I was leaving the campground. The wildflowers were in bloom and gorgeous. I did pretty well with my drinks (4 bottles of Heed and Carbo Pro) but didn't eat enough. At about mile 30 I started doing the math and became worried about making the cut off, and the hill they call Nasty Grade lay ahead. So, I decided that I would just get up Nasty, but push hard everywhere else. Which meant that I didn't take the time to eat. That would cost me later, but for now I was feeling good. This was my third time on this course, and I was comfortable on the road. I passed a few people going up Nasty and a few more going down. I hit 40.2 mph, which could be my fastest speed ever. I made it back to transition with plenty of time to spare -- especially since the cut off time was 2:45 and NOT 2:30, as I had been thinking the whole time. Doh!
The Run
The course is beautiful ... much of it is on trails, around a lake, and through more fields of wildflowers. But don't let that description fool you. It's a bitch. This was my third time on this course too, but I was NOT prepared. The hills just kept coming. Several of the women I passed on the bike passed me on the run. At mile 4, I was hungry. I think I ate part of a banana at some point. They had oranges too, but I was afraid to eat too much. I had a couple of Gus and drank my Heed. Luckily I was able to run (and walk) the last 8 or so miles with a woman named Sharon from Arizona. I don't know what I would have done without her. Overall, I think I felt better than last year, but my run was 16 minutes slower.
Lesson Learned:
- Keep camping and triathlons separate. I love them both, just not together.
- It's time for a new wetsuit. I could have PR'd (at least by a minute!) if I didn't have to struggle so much to get the stupid thing off.
- Pay more attention to nutrition!
