Last year I competed in my first ever triathlon. The Aflac Iron Girl in Syracuse, and became a triathlete and an Iron Girl all on the same day. This year, I became an Iron Girl Squared.
I took the day off from work on Friday so I could go to the expo and drop my bike off. My awesome racing buddy Missy picked me and Pepe up and we headed off to the expo. When we got there the line to pick up the packets was quite long, so we headed to the course talk instead. Probably could have avoided the course talk since it was basically the same course as last year, and we had ridden the bike several times already this year. But it felt good to raise our hands when they asked if there was anyone in the room who did the race last year. And I could totally relate to how nervous the first timers were.
After the course talk we headed over to packet pickup, where there was no line at all anymore. Since I'm old and Missy isn't yet, we were in different waves this year. (but she'll be old next year and we'll be back together again). I got the purple swim cap, and was given bib number 659. I ran in to so many people I knew, most of them I had met through the Y and/or coach Kelly. Once we picked up all of our free goodies, including the talking duck that gets banished from our house, we headed out to Oneida Shores to rack our bikes. When we arrived at the beach, I took Pepe over to the awesome guys at Syracuse Bike for a little check up. My gears were not working smoothly, and free of charge they fixed them. Thanks guys! We then racked our bikes, and headed home.
I was going to be staying at my parents house so that they could bring Bubba to the race. The Big One and his father were going golfing instead. So I packed, unpacked, and repacked my transition crate several times, worried I would forget something, and then packed my bags with my breakfast and race clothing. I cooked me and the boys an awesome dinner, Tilapia, baked sweet potatoes and fresh spinach salad. After dinner Bubba and I headed off.
I got a decent nights sleep, with the exception of having to get up to pee since I was so well hydrated. My parents live much closer to Oneida Shores than I do, so I arrived nice and early.
I grabbed my well packed crate and went to get my body marking. Missy was already there, waiting for me. I set up transition, and headed to the bathroom. Since it was so chilly, we put our wetsuits on early, and headed down to the beach a little early, where it was sunny and hopefully warmer. While walking towards the shore, I moved just the right way (or wrong way depending on how you look at it) and felt an agonizing pain shoot down my back and up my neck. I ignored the pain because it was racing day!
The Swim!
Beach start, I was near Coach Kelly, in the front of the pack. Started out swimming right away (as soon as I saw Kelly was) but had a hard time getting out of the pack. I was pretty much in a group of women the entire first half. But, I maintained an ok rhythm. After the second turn I noticed that I was way over to the right too far because of an out of place kyaker, and had to get back on course. I swam the entire thing, even when others around me were "running" through the shallow water. I even passed a couple of people from the prior wave. When I got close enough to shore, I ran out of the lake and headed to Pepe.
600 m, 10:14, Pace 1:43, Rank 144
I'm really not sure why, but my T1 seemed a bit lengthy: 3:07
The Bike!
My strategy was to pass more people than passed me. The ride is long and flat, and it's a pretty easy course. I passed several people on mountain bikes right away, and then not too long before I started passing the wave that started right before mine. I got very frustrated at one point when the riders were up to four wide at points, making it dangerous to pass. There was a nice gentleman at about the five mile point with a water station. Unfortunately his dog was trying to run after the bikes when I passed. I finally got past the large groups of bike riders, and was going at a decent pace. I know I could have been riding much harder, but I was so scared I would have nothing left for the run if I pushed. Then, right after the single lane bridge, Missy passed me! She was the first from the wave behind me that I noticed. That was all I needed for some extra motivation. I started pushing harder! Played tag with one woman for a while, and had to deal with some drivers who somehow didn't notice 700+ women on bikes. I got back to the park and heard some friendly supporters yelling my name. Got into transition, racked my bike, took a swig of G2, and started running out. Halfway out of transition I realized I had forgotten to put on my race belt. So, I turned around and went back. I had to search for it, and found it three bikes over.
30k, 1:01:34, MPH 18.2, Rank 277
T2: 1:34
The Run!
After I finally headed out of transition, ready to run with all my gear, I heard several people call my name. My mom had found some of her friends, so they all yelled for me. I looked up and saw my parents and a bunch of people I didn't know. But that helped calm me down from being frazzled about my race belt. I gave a quick wave and a smile, and I was off. I love this run. Since it's out and back, you get to see the women who are both ahead and behind you. I saw so many friendly faces, and was inspired to run faster when they greeted me back. And I tried very hard to be encouraging to any one I passed. I felt good the entire run, despite my shortage of brick work in the month before. I felt like I was fresh, and I think I ran with a smile on my face the entire 5k. Before I knew it the run was over. I saw the time on the clock, but knew that it wasn't my time since I was in the fourth wave. But it was under 2 hours, so I knew I had beat last years time, my only true goal for this year.
5k, 26:37, Pace 8:35, Rank 98.
I crossed the finish line, and got my medal. I was an Iron Girl, yet again, and it felt awesome.
My overall time, 1:43:07, Rank 168, which was 7 minutes and 1 second faster than last year.
After I grabbed some water, I found my brother and Bubba. I had planned ahead and packed sand toys since the playground was under construction. This is what they did during the race:
Overall, because of the friends I have made on this years journey, and my coach, I had a better time at this years Iron Girl in every way possible. This is an awe inspiring event, and I plan on doing it for years to come. Thank you to everyone who made this day so wonderful!
I took the day off from work on Friday so I could go to the expo and drop my bike off. My awesome racing buddy Missy picked me and Pepe up and we headed off to the expo. When we got there the line to pick up the packets was quite long, so we headed to the course talk instead. Probably could have avoided the course talk since it was basically the same course as last year, and we had ridden the bike several times already this year. But it felt good to raise our hands when they asked if there was anyone in the room who did the race last year. And I could totally relate to how nervous the first timers were.
After the course talk we headed over to packet pickup, where there was no line at all anymore. Since I'm old and Missy isn't yet, we were in different waves this year. (but she'll be old next year and we'll be back together again). I got the purple swim cap, and was given bib number 659. I ran in to so many people I knew, most of them I had met through the Y and/or coach Kelly. Once we picked up all of our free goodies, including the talking duck that gets banished from our house, we headed out to Oneida Shores to rack our bikes. When we arrived at the beach, I took Pepe over to the awesome guys at Syracuse Bike for a little check up. My gears were not working smoothly, and free of charge they fixed them. Thanks guys! We then racked our bikes, and headed home.
I was going to be staying at my parents house so that they could bring Bubba to the race. The Big One and his father were going golfing instead. So I packed, unpacked, and repacked my transition crate several times, worried I would forget something, and then packed my bags with my breakfast and race clothing. I cooked me and the boys an awesome dinner, Tilapia, baked sweet potatoes and fresh spinach salad. After dinner Bubba and I headed off.
I got a decent nights sleep, with the exception of having to get up to pee since I was so well hydrated. My parents live much closer to Oneida Shores than I do, so I arrived nice and early.
I grabbed my well packed crate and went to get my body marking. Missy was already there, waiting for me. I set up transition, and headed to the bathroom. Since it was so chilly, we put our wetsuits on early, and headed down to the beach a little early, where it was sunny and hopefully warmer. While walking towards the shore, I moved just the right way (or wrong way depending on how you look at it) and felt an agonizing pain shoot down my back and up my neck. I ignored the pain because it was racing day!
The Swim!
Beach start, I was near Coach Kelly, in the front of the pack. Started out swimming right away (as soon as I saw Kelly was) but had a hard time getting out of the pack. I was pretty much in a group of women the entire first half. But, I maintained an ok rhythm. After the second turn I noticed that I was way over to the right too far because of an out of place kyaker, and had to get back on course. I swam the entire thing, even when others around me were "running" through the shallow water. I even passed a couple of people from the prior wave. When I got close enough to shore, I ran out of the lake and headed to Pepe.
600 m, 10:14, Pace 1:43, Rank 144
I'm really not sure why, but my T1 seemed a bit lengthy: 3:07
The Bike!
My strategy was to pass more people than passed me. The ride is long and flat, and it's a pretty easy course. I passed several people on mountain bikes right away, and then not too long before I started passing the wave that started right before mine. I got very frustrated at one point when the riders were up to four wide at points, making it dangerous to pass. There was a nice gentleman at about the five mile point with a water station. Unfortunately his dog was trying to run after the bikes when I passed. I finally got past the large groups of bike riders, and was going at a decent pace. I know I could have been riding much harder, but I was so scared I would have nothing left for the run if I pushed. Then, right after the single lane bridge, Missy passed me! She was the first from the wave behind me that I noticed. That was all I needed for some extra motivation. I started pushing harder! Played tag with one woman for a while, and had to deal with some drivers who somehow didn't notice 700+ women on bikes. I got back to the park and heard some friendly supporters yelling my name. Got into transition, racked my bike, took a swig of G2, and started running out. Halfway out of transition I realized I had forgotten to put on my race belt. So, I turned around and went back. I had to search for it, and found it three bikes over.
30k, 1:01:34, MPH 18.2, Rank 277
T2: 1:34
The Run!
After I finally headed out of transition, ready to run with all my gear, I heard several people call my name. My mom had found some of her friends, so they all yelled for me. I looked up and saw my parents and a bunch of people I didn't know. But that helped calm me down from being frazzled about my race belt. I gave a quick wave and a smile, and I was off. I love this run. Since it's out and back, you get to see the women who are both ahead and behind you. I saw so many friendly faces, and was inspired to run faster when they greeted me back. And I tried very hard to be encouraging to any one I passed. I felt good the entire run, despite my shortage of brick work in the month before. I felt like I was fresh, and I think I ran with a smile on my face the entire 5k. Before I knew it the run was over. I saw the time on the clock, but knew that it wasn't my time since I was in the fourth wave. But it was under 2 hours, so I knew I had beat last years time, my only true goal for this year.
5k, 26:37, Pace 8:35, Rank 98.
I crossed the finish line, and got my medal. I was an Iron Girl, yet again, and it felt awesome.
My overall time, 1:43:07, Rank 168, which was 7 minutes and 1 second faster than last year.
After I grabbed some water, I found my brother and Bubba. I had planned ahead and packed sand toys since the playground was under construction. This is what they did during the race:
Overall, because of the friends I have made on this years journey, and my coach, I had a better time at this years Iron Girl in every way possible. This is an awe inspiring event, and I plan on doing it for years to come. Thank you to everyone who made this day so wonderful!
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