I have gotten through my first half-iron distance race of the season post Adrenal Fatigue.  I was nervous as all get out about what my ability would be.  In my head I was hoping for a 7 hour finish time, knowing that pre-AF I finished in about 6 and 1/2 hours. 

Barb’s Race is an all womens 70.3 that takes place in the Napa/Sanoma Valley.  It occurs  in conjunction with the full Vineman.  The race is a point to point with the start 30 minutes from the finish.  The swim is on the Russian River and the bike course meanders on rolling terrain through vineyards.

Saturday morning came and I was up at 4am.  Even though my wave didn’t go off until 8:17.. I have this thing about getting to a race real early.  See I love getting a good spot in transition near an end where it’s easy to find and get to my bike.

Black Betty hangin and me in the purple jacket

I set up…sociallized with all the wonderful women around me…and within no time they were calling us down to the water for the start of Barb’s Race. 

Pre-Race Game Face

I made my way into the river and got right in the front row.  The countdown started and the horn went off.  I was on my way!  The current of the river was barely noticeable. I felt strong and fluid as I swam and swam and swam upstream.  I finally reached the turn around, looked up to sight, and saw all these people walking!  Yeap, WALKING!  The river was shallow enough that many participants decided to walk.  The thought crossed my mind…and was quickly replaced with…”this race is training for Ironman Florida”.  So shallow strokes I took as I made my way around the bouy. 

As I began take my breaths and looked at the evergreens that lined the river I realized how dang FAST I was going with the current!  It felt like it took 10 mins to get back to T1. 

Blue Cap getting out of the water

 

Next it was the long run through T1 and then out the other end with Black Betty!  It’d been over a year since Betty and I had become one and raced out hearts out.  And on this day, that’s exactly what we did!!!!!

 
I decided that I would ride hard through the hills in the first 10 miles because I knew I would have 30 miles of rollers to recover before the next big hills at the end.  This worked perfect for me!  I cruised the bike course!  I felt strong, and I just felt at one with Betty.  We were a team again.  Just humming along in perfect unison.
 

Entering the LONG T2

 
After a stellar ride and in good time I might add…I hit T2 in the town of Windsor after 56 miles of rolling wine country.  Now this transition was the absolute longest T2 I’ve ever experienced! It went on for eva!  I have decided I may want to learn how to get out of my shoes before transition after running for what seemed like miles in my bike shoes….but I did make it; racked Betty threw on my Newtons, and I was OFF!  (ok, after a pit stop).  Then I was off  :-)
 
I started off on the run a bit cautiously.  The bike had gone stellar, and I was wondering what I would still have in the tank for the run.  After about 30 minutes I knew I was on track to have a great race.  My run felt effortless and I was purring along!  My cadence was quick and my nutrition/hydration was spot on! Even with the two big hills they throw into this course to keep ya honest!
 
As I hit the last two miles I decided to really turn it on and see what I had left.  I felt like I was flying.  What seemed like effortless earlier seemed even more so now.   I have never in my life had as good of a run as I did on this course.  The final 2 miles where the highlight.  My run came completely together, and for me, I felt like I was flying.  I was channeling my inner Rinny  (ha).
 
I crossed the finish line, well within the time I thought I might finish…and was even more pleased with the fact, that my time was right on track with my pre adrenal fatigue times!  I never ever expected that!!!!!!!   And besides that, I place 6th in AG out of 52 women! 
 
I really owe a big thank you to my Coach Cary!  She had done a fantastic job of training me and keeping me healthy!!!!!!  So, thank you Cary!!!
 
I am on track to Ironman Florida, and  after this race, I have no doubt I will be ready!  I am so excited to have had such a great time and to have felt sooooo darn good out there on the race course.   And I am really looking forward to the next few months and the increase in the training load as I really gear up for IMFL!!!
 
 
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