Valley Girl Triathlon

This was the race I had been waiting for, my 'A' race... the one I had been looking forward to all year. While Valley Girl doesn't sound like a very tough race, only in it's 3rd year, it is already the largest and best run sprint distance in the area. While there are numerous first time triathletes at this women's only event, it becomes apparent, based on the number of Cervelos in the bike racks, that all the local tri divas have turned out.

Saturday, the day before, started off somewhat stressfully. As I started to get my gear together, I pulled out my bike to clean the chain. As I spun the pedals, at the same point in each revolution, I could feel the bearings in the bottom bracket seizing and grinding while they emitted a loud squeak! Oh NO! Why Now??? I quickly called the little bicycle/band instrument sales store down and street (I know, what do ya do?) to see if he could squeeze me in on short notice to look at my bike. He took in my bike, but when I went to pick it up at the end of the day, he told me that he had been too busy to really work on it. AARRRGGGG! I took it for a ride when I got it home, and sometime during that process, I either pulverized the offending bearing or forced everything back into place, because the pedal resistance and squeak disappeared. Thank Goodness!

Race Day! Being the ever diligent, rule abiding Virgo that I am, I followed the instructions outlined in the race packet to the letter! Although, it did occur to me that a 6-7:30 bike check in would leave a lot of slack time prior to the 9am race start. None the less, I arrived at the parking area at 7am and proceeded to ride the 3/4 mile down to the transition area. I discovered that I had forgotten the sponge that goes in the top of my aero bottle that prevents the fluid from splashing out. Fortunately, I had prepared and brought my Gu2o sports drink in bike bottles, so I just used the cages on my bike. Quick change of plans... disappointing, but no biggie.

Off I went to the transition area. I think I had my bike racked, got body marked and had my timing chip all before 7:30. The race started at 9am and my wave wasn't due to go off until 9:15. What's a person to do for over an hour and a half? Once again, I was amazed at how friendly my fellow triathletes were. Hopefully, there are two new triathletes in the world that feel the same way because of me. My bike was racked right between them, and as I returned from body marking to set up my transition area, I heard one of them say, "I have no idea what I'm doing. We can just watch everyone else and see what they do." This was my opening to introduce myself and teach them how to set up their transition area. I must have endeared myself to them because later on, one of them called me over so she could get her picture taken with me. HaHa! I thought it was very cute.

The water temperature was a balmy 72 degrees, and wetsuits were optional. I did several short warm up laps in the swimming area, and decided to go without my wetsuit since the temperature felt quite pleasant. I met and chatted with numerous ladies as they tested out the water. Everyone was talkative and happy, although somewhat apprehensive about the 500 meter swim that lay before them.

From shore, the furthest buoy looked a LONG ways out there! The course appeared to be a rectangle with a point on the end. From the swim start, we would swim straight out with the very large green buoys on our left. After the last green buoy was a little yellow buoy (Waaaay out there) that we had to round and then swim back down another set of large green buoys to the swim exit. What made the swim look so long was that darn little yellow buoy. What we couldn't tell from shore was that the buoy was not small because it was way the heck out there, but because it was Actually a SMALL buoy!! Duh!

With about a half hour until the first swim wave took off, I was running out of things to do and people to talk to. I figured I would just chill out and relax, so I sat down right at the edge of the water and kicked back. I probably sat there for 20 minutes. The water lapping up over my legs, sun on my shoulders... watching the activity of the swim and transition areas. I could have stayed there all day. It was very enjoyable and relaxing. But, next came the pre-race meeting and then everyone started lining up for their swim waves. At the last minute, after the first wave of swimmers had already started, I decided to wear my wetsuit. I had gotten a little chilled sitting in the water, and was now wanting the warmth of the suit, so on it went.

The swim waves were divided by age group, each wave having a different colored cap and starting 5 minutes apart. I was in the fourth wave, yellow caps, which consisted of the 40-49 year olds. It was a lot of fun watching the three waves go before me, and being able to watch the leaders exit the water and run into transition. But soon enough, it was my turn.

I think my favorite part of the race is the swim start. After all the training, the waiting and the build up... the gun goes off and it all culminates into this grand finale. I think what is even better than the moment I cross the finish line is the feeling I get running into the water, feeling the resistance on my legs, then diving and feeling the cool fluid rush past my body.

Triathlon has brought out the competitive spirit in me. And yes, I always want to do well, and finish strong. I think one of the reasons the swim start is my favorite part of the race, while it sounds a little cliché, is that starting the race is a much larger challenge than finishing it. There are so many people who will never have the courage or ability to experience this sport we do... and I used to be one of them. I feel very proud and a great sense of accomplishment toeing the waters edge with other triathletes.

So... the gun goes off and my wave of yellow caps hits the water! The first 50 meters, I swim pretty hard to get out in front and avoid being overtaken. I can sense that there is someone right to my left, another swimmer maybe 20 feet to my right and one drafting right off my heels. By 100 meters, the swimmer to my right starts to angle in towards me, so I intentionally angle a little towards her with the intent of drafting behind her. It works perfectly! I swam the next 100 meters first drafting off her hip, then off her feet.

As I rounded the last green buoy on the swim out and sighted on the yellow buoy, I realized that the yellow buoy wasn't further out in the lake, as it had looked like from shore. The swim was 200m out, 100m across, and 200m back in. It made me feel pretty good to know that the swim was shorter than it appear and I was already half done!

When I rounded the last corner to start the swim back to shore, I came up on two yellow caps swimming side by side, so I double drafted behind them for a while. It was very helpful that the different swim waves were in different colored caps. Since I had caught up to the back of the wave in front of me, it was obvious that I should stay away from the green caps and go after the yellow caps. While swimming through the maze of green caps, I had lost track of the two women I had been drafting off of. At about 100 meters out, I caught sight of one veering way off course to the right. This was my chance to pass her... and I did!

I feel really good about my swim. I have come so far and improved so much in the last couple of months, it just amazes me! I felt great the whole swim, heart rate under control, and alligator eyes keeping me right on course! I've still got lots of room for improvement, I'm actually surprised that my time wasn't a little faster, but I exited the water in second place in my age group!

T1 seemed a little slow, but I was only about 15 seconds slower than the fastest in my age group, so that's ok. Had I not worn the wetsuit, I could have been a little faster in transition, but possibly slower in the water. Give and take.

Off onto the bike. The course started with what looked like a pretty serious 3 block assent, but as it often happens to me, once I am actually peddling up the hill, it's not nearly as bad as I had thought it would be. I had my bike in a really easy gear... up and over and onto the course! The course had lots of corners and three turn-arounds, which I hated because I felt like I lost a lot of time braking around these points. I sprinted out of the slowest areas to try and make up time. While I past numerous people on the bike, some obviously past me, and I fell back to 5th place in my age group..

T2 was pretty fast and I gained an age group spot.

Off onto the run. Just before the first mile, someone ran up pretty fast and past me. I looked at her left calf and saw 41 written there. Hey! Whatcha know? She's the same age I am! WHAT? Oh crap! She just blew by me and she's in me age group!! I sped up and jumped on her heels. When we hit the water station at mile 1, she stopped to drink. What? She's stopping? Well, that means I can't! I grabbed two cups of water... one for over my head and one to drink, and just kept plugging along. It didn't do much good. Within a quarter mile, she had caught back up with me and past me again. I paced off of her for another quarter mile until I succumbed to the side cramp that I had gotten and stopped to walk. What? Walk? What the hell are you doing?? Get your ass moving! You are tougher than this! I walked for maybe 10 seconds, but in that time, Miss 41 had pulled a good 25 yards ahead of me... and that's the last I saw of her. In the end, she ran almost a minute faster pace per mile than I did, could, or ever have. So, it was inevitable. Maybe next year!


So here are the final stats:

Swim 500m: 13:37
T1: 2:14
Bike 12 mi: 36:35 (19.7 Ave. mph) (This seems faster than I felt like I went)
T2: 1:17
Run 3mi: 26:22 (8:47 pace)
Total: 1:20:07

I missed my time goal by about 5 minutes, but finished 5th out of 48 in my age group, which I'm very happy about. Overall: 54th out of 478.

The remainder of the morning was very nice. I met up with my two new swim buddies, one of whom took first place in her 55-59 age group! She was pleasantly surprised! We hung out, ate free Mexican food and chatted. Ursula's brother was there playing in the band, so he cheered for me when I was called up to get my little 5th place ribbon. (Yea! Awards 5 deep!) :)

I had a surprise waiting for me in my email box when I arrived home. I had been emailing with a local guy who had his Garmin listed for sale on a local tri site. He happened to be at the race taking pictures, and when he heard my name called at the finish line, he started snapping photos. Since we have never met, he was hoping he was taking pictures of the right person! He then emailed them to me and they were waiting for me to view when I got home! What a nice surprise!! The photo I posted is one that he sent me.


Here is a wonderful photo I swiped from one of the race photographers sites. He didn't get a picture of me on swim, bike or run, so I've decide to claim this one. It's better than any pose I could have mustered! Doesn't it just remind you of how you felt after your first open water swim? Love it!

This was the last race I had committed to for the summer. In August, there is another sprint at the lake not far from my house. Since all my new tri friends are doing this one, I'd also like to do it. The week after is the Coeur d' Alene olympic distance race. While I'd like to get an olympic distance race under my belt, I've heard that the bike course for this race is very difficult, and since I've spent almost no time doing bike training this summer, I'm feeling somewhat hesitant about signing up for it. Time will tell.

So... another race is in the books, and it was a goodie! The live band, the good food, latté stand, excellent and numerous volunteers, makes this a must do race next year!