I made it through my first triathlon of the season and the first tri in a year.  To say I was nervous leading up to the race is an understatement.  I was really nervous!  There were so many unknowns…how would I be swimming in open water again.  How hard would I be able to push myself.  Would I come in last and be much much slower than before getting Adrenal Fatigue….the questions and doubts went on and on!

And then, my coach sends me an email saying that I would do great, I was well trained for the sprint and judging by the Colfax Half my times where probably around where they were last year…and to relax and have fun!!!!  With that little message the nerves just went away…and almost completely!

Saturday morning arrived and I think I was the 5th car to arrive at the race.  Yeah, I’m one of those anal, rather be early than late kinda athletes. As I arrived to transition I was greeted by my TriBella Teammates who where volunteering at the event.  Nothing like having a good friend do the body marking.

Once I got my transition set up I took my bike out for a little spin to warm up followed by a 10 minute run.  It was time to hit the potties before worming into my wetsuit (yeah it fits again!!!!).  Then it was down to the lake for the race start.  (The race started 30 minutes late because they were waiting for the paramedics to arrive)

So, at about 8am, I found myself nearing the swim start for the final wave.  As I made my way into the water I positioned myself right in front on the left side.  I have decided in my last few races that I swim well enough now to be out in front and am able to mostly hold my spot there.  The gun went off and I went for it!  No warming up slowly…I just straight out hit that close to the red-line right from the beginning of the swim. 

As I came out of the swim and into transition I noticed that all the bikes where still in transition and guessed that I might be first out of the water.  And wouldn’t you know it…my wet suit would not come sliding off my feet!  As I tried to pull my foot out of my suit my leg would cramp so then I’d try the other and that would cramp…so finally I bent down and just took the darn thing off with my hands!  Precious seconds wasted!

I grabbed Black Betty and bolted out of transition and onto the bike course.  Here I had a little bit of trouble getting warmed up and feeling some juice in my legs… and while I was warming up some woman in my age group goes pedaling by me all fast and $hit.  “OK” I say to myself, “you’re warming up and you can catch her later, just don’t let her get too far ahead of you!” 

And that’s just what I did.  I kept her in sight and when we got to this nice downhill  I flew past her and left her in my dust.  I hit such a nice pace and cadence that I was cruising and felt as if I was flying.  The riding felt effortless.  I was close to threshold but not too close.  I remember thinking at one point “maybe I should back off a bit and save some for the run.”  This was immediately followed by “Nah!  Keep going, she’s right behind you!  I’ll see what I have left on the run itself.”

I made it back to transition and was greeted by my TriBella Teammates and given a nice spank on the butt and told to “go get em!”.  Which is exactly what I did.  I was the first back to T2 and quickly changed into my Newton Running Shoes and out onto the race course I went.  I hadn’t seen “the woman” yet and thought I might be in first place so far….

And then there was the run.  I have never run so hard all through the 5k.  I knew she was chasing me and I wanted so badly to be able to place 1st in my first race back.  I was dancing that fine line between anaerobic and just below for the full 3.1 miles.  I could feel her, sense her, making her way closer and closer to me.  Now I have to admit that time and time again, the run is where I will lose my place in a race.  And I was so determined not to have that happen!

At the turn around I finally say “the woman” and knew a had a bit of a lead on her.  I just kept running and running and trying to find that sweat spot where movement just happens.  Right before the 3 mile marker I heard someone hanging off my left shoulder breathing hard.  I didn’t even have to turn around to see who it was, I just knew.  I asked her “Is it you” to which she replied “Yes” and then proceeded to pass me with .1 miles to go.  “Dang’ I said to myself, ” Come on!  Pick it  up!  Catch her!  Dig Down!  Move your legs faster! Lean forward more!  Come ON!!!!!”  Well non of that work and I crossed the finish line 10 seconds behind her. 

I immediately found “her” “the woman” and put my hand out and said “Nice Race!  Thanks for giving me such a run for my money.  I loved racing you!”   We chatted about the race, about passing each other, and quickly became friends!  We spent the rest of the time together eating and waiting for the awards ceremony.  I had made a new friend and her name is Betsy! 

All in all this was absolutely the best race I’ve ever raced.  Actually racing against Betsy made for an experience I’ve never had before.  This was the first time I actually raced someone!  It heightened the experience and made me dig down inside myself even more.  I had to strategize more and think about what I was doing more so than normal.  Having Betsy out there, chasing my heels, made for a spectacular race and day!

Me and "the woman' Betsy!

-