Age Group Winner!

The only thing that was missing from this triathlon was a Versace dress because believe me, after it was over, I felt like giving a speech. So, Saturday was the Heart and Sole Triathlon. It's a sprint distance event and was held in the next town over from where I live. Actually two towns over. The weather was 43 and rainy. Just as crappy as you could possibly imagine it to be.

There are things in this world that I don't like but racing and competing in bad weather is not one of them. I find that I do my best when mother nature dumps on me. The swim was a 400 yard pool swim. Not bad really. These days my warm-up for my open water swim is a 400 so I knew that wouldn't be an issue. The only problem is that it takes me awhile to settle in when I swim. I often don't hit my best stride or feel comfy till about 20 minutes in. I had a MAJOR problem in that they didn't swim seed me. I was the LAST person to sign up for this event and I was almost the LAST person to start the swim. I passed 5 people in the pool and was hit HEAD ON by a guy trying to pass in my line. It startled me. Really startled me! I popped up and yelled "Hey!!" at him. Took me another 5 - 10 seconds to catch my breath and get back at it. Needless to say I was happy to get out of the pool.

 Once I climbed out of the pool, I had to walk out a door, in my tri suit, soaking wet, into a 40 degree day with rain. My daughter was there to greet me at transition with my Nike jacket. I was never so happy to put that thing on. I wasn't 100% focused on the feeling of being cold but I knew it was there. I immediately sat down by my bike, threw my helmet, socks and bike shoes on, got up and took off on Achilles. I know I'm doing it right when the race volunteers are telling me to slow down. Since my bike sensors were wet, the entire bike computer was shut down. About 2 miles in, my cadence and MPH started working so that's all I had to go on. I almost like it better that way. I looked down at my legs about 5 miles into the 15 mile ride and noticed that they were beet red. The rain and cold were burning. I mean, I was warm on the inside but my skin was telling another story. I always find it interesting how I'm so much different on the bike than I am on the swim or run. I would find people out in front of me and do everything in my power to catch them. I passed 10 people on the bike. Yeah, I wasn't messing around.

Complete drowned rat 

 Once I rolled back into transition, my daughter came up along side of me and asked how I was. Then all of a sudden it hit me. I couldn't feel my feet. The cold had numbed them. Each foot felt like a wooden pirate leg. I said "I think I have a problem, I can't feel my feet." And then I laughed, because really, what else was there to do? I pulled my helmet off, racked my bike, threw on the Nikes and away I went for 3.1 miles of cross country / trail running. Up creek beds and over the hills I went. I looked like a drowned rat but I felt like a million dollars. When I crossed the finish line I knew that I had done well. I could sense it. And I DID!

I finished 1st in my age group. Not only that but I was the fastest woman on the bike with the exception of the overall female winner. For being fastest on the bike I received a $50 gift cert to the local bike shop. Say it with me - New Helmet.

It was such a confidence boost. I crossed the finish with plenty in the tank. Now, I'm ready to move it on up like the Jeffersons!