July 28th, 2019
I've had a few other races along the way, but apparently they weren't important enough to discuss? Just a 5k, a 2 mile OWS with a mad current, and a 5 mile Heat Wave in some of the swampiest conditions! Some were great, 2nd place overall in the swim, and some weren't. But the tris are the main events...
Training has been very hit or miss this season. Either I feel like 7000% or I feel like death. It fits with my mental state of extremes? No idea. But consistency would be better, me thinks.
Alarm went off at 0330 after a fairly decent night of sleep. Ate my naan and peanut butter (new race breakfast!) in peace while downing coffee and water. I was feeling strong. I was feeling ready. Bike looked good in transition, laid everything out, waited for my folks.
It was finally time to don the swim skin, wetsuit optional race, and head to the start. I was ready. Until I started chatting with a man who qualified for 70.3 worlds 7 or 8 times and Kona twice. Awesome. Not freaking out at all. Hop in the water and take off. Trying to get into my rhythm, but this stupid woman would NOT get off me. She wasn't so much drafting and swimming on top of me. Over and over and over again. I seriously considered grabbing her head and shoving it under or punching her in the face. But it's not allowed and I wanted to keep racing. At long last, got away from her. Only to meet her again at the end. Which seemed to take years to get to! I felt smooth, but I knew it was going to be slow. 33 minutes. A kick in the face after my 27 at Virginia. But that was wetsuit legal. So, it's ok?
No flat tire in T1!! Tiny victories. Hopped on my baby, Shadowfax, and took off. Was still feeling pretty awesome. The tailwind helped a lot. First 20 miles was almost a 22mph average. Woohoo! I knew it wasn't going to last, but damn was it more brutal than I thought. Miles 20-36 was a delightful cross wind. And then it got better! With a headwind from 36 to the end. Still managed a 19mph average the last half, but the damage was done. I just didn't know it yet. 2:41 and some change. Not my finest work.
T2 was lightning quick, but oh that sun. She was out in full force ready to beat us up. And damn was it hot and humid. Took off like a rocket. Because I'm a moron. First half mile was almost an 8:30 pace. Why?! Poof. Matches gone. Again. Run got slower and slower. I had been doing mental math the whole time about placing and podium, etc. By the time mile 4 came along, the highest I could have been was 7th. Already out of podium. And then I saw 2nd place female fly by me. Of course she was in my age group.
I didn't give up. Not then. Not really ever. But at the halfway point, after getting passed by seemingly every woman in my age group, I made the calculated decision (how my therapist phrased it) to pull back even more. Not to crush it. Not to risk an injury to my increasingly angry knee. Podium wasn't going to happen. 70.3 worlds wasn't going to happen.
Finally finished. 5:41.09. I know I can't PR every race. But to go almost 20 minutes slower than 2 years ago is a bitter pill to swallow. I was slightly crushed and disappointed. I know I am better than that performance. I am better than what this season has been. I have a few more small events, and then the big one. Ironman Chattanooga. It's been tough to accept Kona qualifying is not happening this year. I've shed more than a few tears about it. Over the span of many days. I have a lot of big changes coming, and apparently this journey is full of more dark places than I was prepared for. But I am a phoenix. I have risen before and I will rise from this.
