Bluff Creek Triathlon Results

This last weekend I raced in the Bluff Creek Tri. From the get go, I was not in the race mentally, which resulted in a very tough day. Sunday morning I woke at 6am to walk the dog and grab some breakfast. I loaded up the car and headed for Ogden. I arrived at 730 to find pretty much everyone already there. I got my race packet and rack my bike. I got stuck by a person that this had to be their first race because who brings a bag big enough you could carry your bike in, really. So he had about 5 feet or space for just his transition stuff so you think that finding a place for his bike would be easy (forshadowing for later) I squeeze in my bike. I only have my running shoes to layout so I just set them in front of my bike and my bag in the back after I pushed the other guys bag over. Race time. We had to take a shuttle 2 miles to the beach for the start. We get there and I am still not nervous. This is how I know I was not mentally ready. I never really got nervous. My stomach is usually in knots and I don't want to eat anything, but I was actually hungry. There wasn't very many women in the olympic race which lead to a small wave. I had a good shot up front, but was reluctant to be confident with it feeling as if I wasn't ready. Normally I would have been all about it. We take off and I quickly find a girl to draft off of, but after the 2nd buoy, she was out in never never land. So now I have to swim by myself. Still hoping someone will pass me. Sure enough, after the 3rd buoy, another girl passes me. I try to jump in behind her, but I was having a hell of a time finding her line so by the time I got in line, she was to far ahead of me to draft off her and I lost her. Now my toes are frozen and I just wanted to be done. Swim: ~32 min. We had a good 400 yard run to the transition. Took about 3 min to run it. I strip off the wetsuit and I am off on the bike. I had practiced getting my shoes on on the bike, but I never practiced with wet fee so I had a hell of a time getting my shoes on. The bike was miserable for me. The road was crappy and it felt like 80% of it was into the 12 mph wind. There was really only 3 big hills. The 2nd one wiped me out big time. ~1:30. We got in on the run and I get to my rack to find there is no room for my bike. The dude next to me had his bike in my spot. Awesome. I kind of throw my bike on his and take off. I was lucky the guy on the other side of me was standing there so he must have re racked my bike because it was actually on the rack when I finished. Thanks dude. I mentioned later to the guy that you have to put your bike back in your spot and he said that there was someone else that took his spot. With 5 feet of transition area, there should be room for you. Your bike doesn't need a 2 feet space between the next bike. I take off on the run completely exhausted, but my body doesn't feel to bad. Just no energy. I was hungry and thirsty. I ran out of water on the bike. I had 2 bottles which should have been enough, but it was not. I reach the first water station and down 2 cups. They only had a swallow in them. I should have grabbed another, but I kept on. The next water station I was like I need 3 gatorades. These were 3/4 full so I really only needed 2 but took all three and downed them. Ahhhhh...much better. I was getting some energy back so I grabbed usually 2 gatorade at each of the other stations. I actually was very very happy and surprised with my run time. ~55 min. For only getting one 5 mile run in training the last 2 months, I was happy. I finished somewhere around 3 hours to finish 2nd in my age group. It was a tough day for me. I think it was the 3 hour bike from Saturday that kind of wiped me out, but that was ok. This was mental test today. I am not sore today so I know I was ready physically for the race. The bike was just brutal for me.
Lessons for the day:
-Swimming in 67 degree water for 30 min gives you numb feet
-Running with numb feet is not easy
-Getting your bike shoes on with cold wet feet is hard.
-Do not open a gel until you are ready to take it. If not, it results in your hands, arms, and aero/handle bars being covered in gel that you have to attempt to lick off because you need the calories. It is very difficult to clean off after sitting in the sun for 4 hours.
-When hills have names, they are going to be harder than hard. One guy in front of me got off and walked his bike up the hill.
-If the county is going to close a road for road work, there is a reason. Maybe check out the shape of the road before the race.
-Running on an uneven dirt road is hard.
And finally
-Athletes do not want to drink diet pop after a race. Give us something with sugar and calories!

Overall it was a good weekend. I am still waiting for the results to be posted so I know my actual times and splits. Today I am heading to the pool to see if I can get an hour swim in. Might be mostly sitting in the hot tub. :) That will be good too then I can work on my mental preparation for Kansas in 2 weeks!!!!