Race Day

We have set the alarm for 5:15 am because check-in starts at 6:00. They are going on a first come first serve basis, I figure if we are in the pool first we will finish before dark. Kris and I are both in the first heat. Kris is in lane 1, I am in lane 5. Now this would have been great if it was just 2 in a lane, but it was 4. There was so much churning and activity in both the lane we were in, as well as the lanes on both side, that it was almost like swimming in waves. I would have much rather been in an open swim. I couldn't get into my zone, I was too involved with all the swimmers around me to concentrate on my own stroke. I finished my 1/2 mile, jumped out of the pool, grabbed my towel and headed to the transition area. I looked into lane 1 and saw that Kris was still swimming, her stroke was strong. She opted to do backstroke.

Now I'm pulling on my bike shorts, and I do mean pulling. It is not easy to put anything on while your still wet, but when it is spandex and fits like a girdle it's all the more difficult. Threw on a long sleeve shirt and then shoes and socks. The shoes and socks get me every time. I have to sit down to wipe off my feet, because if you start the run with a pebble or grain of sand on your foot you will be absolutely miserable by the end of the race. My transition time was something like 5 minutes. The pros do it in seconds.

The bike was a breeze. It was on the B&A trail towards Annapolis. The terrain is flat, scenic and only 9.5 miles. Piece of cake. Drop the bike off and start the run.... okay, walk.

The 3 miles went pretty quickly. There was a garage sale on the route, but I didn't have time to stop. The walk/run was also on the B&A trail towards Severna Park. There were police officers at all the intersections to make sure we got through safely. They were a little upsetting to me because I had to run through the intersections to make it look good. On the last leg of the race, where all the spectators cheer you in, this group of young boys around 7-10 years old start cheering and running along with me, and I think how cute, I better not disappoint my fans. All the sudden this 8 year old goes whizzing by me and I realise the cheering squad was not mine. Oh well, at least I was running for the photo shoot, so what if the 8 year old was in front of me for the shot.