Problem with this Tri is that they don't advertise. It's a word of mouth thing. Everyone is welcome yet they keep it on the Down Low because they don't want to attract attention. They could easily get 750 people instead of 75. This is a good thing except it's hard to get info about it.
Kelly from the YMCA said it was a mile swim. Donald said it was a long half mile. Adele said 1/2. Everyone agreed about 15 miles on the bike. The run used to be 3 miles but was switched to a 5 mile or 4 or something. Great... Hard to get info...
Donald said he will take me there. Leave right after. I wasn't sure about that as I know him and I know he likes to socialize whereas I just wanted to get the hell out. On the other hand, he couldn't give me an address nor directions so Oh well.
Pickup was going to be 6am ; err actually 6:45 ; be ready by 6:15 ; leaving at 6:30. I gave up. I would be ready by 6am and I asked him to give me a 10 min heads up. We at least agreed on that.
Elizabeth got annoyed at me for doing 2 races in a month. Oi... I didn't think this should count. Oh well. I hoped the kids would potentially come and spectate. That was asking too much for a summer thing. Yeah, it's ok. Haven't had spectators in a while and I get it. What are they supposed to do?
The night before the race I was working at the YMCA guarding. I knew I was exhausted. Physically and Mentally. Nothing in the tank. Legs were dead too. I guess that's good training for the big one. Whereas Donald Tapered, I didn't. Tuesday at 3:30am I got on the bike for 25 miles with a run afterwards. I told Donald I would do the race but I would probably be DFL as my legs were toast. He didn't swim that night (taper) but came over anyway with 3 clif bars and told me to eat. Nice... He's a good guy like that.
Didn't sleep enough unless 3.5 hours sounds good before a race but again... Who cares.
He picked me up and off we went. Got there and he told me to unload the bikes. I spotted a porta-potty but I was with the bikes and there was a line. Finally he came back. Turns out it costs $ 50 and he paid for me. Wonderful... Got the porta-potty thing going. Felt better. He kept disappearing on me so I just didn't know certain things like which direction we are going, the course or any logistics etc.
Scalzo told me that most people put the bikes near the benches. I didn't understand what/why he was telling me this. I got it later.
Donald always bring lube but didn't. Thankfully I got some vaseline from someone and applied it to down under. He also convinced me to wear a wetsuit. Wasn't that easy to put it on as I put on some extra pounds. We walked down the 1/2 a mile and as we approached the water, the "gun" went off. Cool. Starting a bit late. Love it.
Donald went deeper so he won't have to sight and to avoid the fight with the waves. I chose to stay more inland. The waves weren't that bad. I didn't love the swim and of course I started thinking this is only a 1/2 mile swim and here you are signed up for a crazy tri with a lot more swimming. I then told myself to shut the hell up. I saw the swim finish and angled in. I came out just behind Donald so I thought that was pretty good. The sand run was ok. Not sure of swim time but I got to the boardwalk (after sand run) at 14:23. Whereas he turned right to his bike which is the way we should ride, I turned left. I got ready and took off. Donald was already gone. Cool. Scalzo came up behind me and passed me. Cool.
I felt surprisingly good on the bike. I was shocked. Amer warned me that one direction will be good and the other will suck. I felt good. Soon I saw Barbara "can't remember my name ever" Cronin Staglinari, who apparently I can't spell her name so I guess we are even, head back to me with Donald trailing. That did NOT make sense. Everyone told me that the course was 1 loop, out and back for 15 miles. Soon enough the turn around was there and we were at mile 5. The guy there told me I still have to come back to him. Weird... Whatever. I spoke to another cyclist who said that was wrong. Ok... Well, he was wrong. First time ever it wasn't a 1 loop course. We headed back and about 2.5 miles in, we turned around and headed back. From there, back home. Part of the course was on the street and part on the boardwalk.
I got into T2 after riding over the water hose. Everyone else could ride a smidge less. Whatever. Lesson learned. I then started running. I rode well and I thought I was only about 5 minutes behind Donald. Later I changed my estimate to 10 minutes after T2. I was hoping to catch Donald on the run. Nope. I saw him with only 1ish miles from the finish for him. He told me that he wishes that he could run like me. I didn't think I was going that fast but that was nice. A girl wearing bib 51 was running like crazy ahead of me. I hoped that she was relay otherwise wow. Later I realized she was relay. Cool.
I got to the turnaround and ran back. Apparently it was a 4 mile run.
With about a 1/2 mile from the finish, 2 athletes (young lifeguards) passed me. With 200 yards from the finish, I passed someone.
All in all, I finished. The bike went well with me actually passing a few people. Woo-Hoo. The run also had me passing a few tho those 2 guys came out of nowhere.
I had a good time. Enjoyed myself. Don't know if I would repeat again but who cares. Donald did socialize afterwards which sucked but that's ok. Later that night, I ran 3 miles feeling good and then taught. Good day all in all.