The Aliens did it..

Well, I should have known the aliens were coming to harrass me at this race when we witnessed the "UFO" parade last nite after dinner.. yep, right down Main Street for the UFO convention in Roswell. I think some got confused though cause they had Star Wars themed "floats" Kind of funny actually. They were having a good time it seemed..

Gosh I felt so good this morning. We got to sleep in as the race did not start until 8:30! I started my 400 meter swim in "Bottomless lake Triathlon"- I am not sure why it is called Bottomless-maybe there is no bottom? Or maybe cause you cannot see the bottom? I made the huge leap to no wetsuit since it was such a short race. The temp was around 72 degrees. Felt refreshing-I think I had a good swim split-sub 10 min. I was on a roll! We had practiced transitions Friday with the old leave my shoes on the bike and jump on method several times so I was ready. T-1-got the helmet & sunglasses on at lightening speed. I was so happy and such a fast transition-damn I am good! When I got to the bike mount line I looked down to jump on the bike and WHAT? No shoes??...I was confused for a second then I realized- I had grabbed my HUSBAND"S bike!! (he was next to me in transition) Well, after all it is a Specialized like mine, it has 2 wheels-DUH! So what if it has a completely different seat post, is taller than mine-geez! That was probably the stupidest thing I have ever done at a race. So I run back, wasting all my not wearing a wetsuit time, and got my own bike. I saw confused looks by my friends as I am running back to T-1. Like what the hell? OK, I got past that..The bike was a very short 8 miles with one pretty steep hill out of transition but then it was just rolling hills. The road pavement sucked-very bumpy. I passed a few, got passed a few times. I am coming in for my leap off the bike. I take my first foot out of the bike shoes and somehow my other shoe comes out..then I am staring at dirt instead of pavement. I know I am going down so I steer more into the dirt so as not to hurt as bad from the fall. Oh damn!! Someone asks me if I am OK. I get up, dust myself off and then the chain is off the ring of course so there another 2 min. wasted.Now I am just plain pissed!! You know that little girl-I am not getting my way- angry! Like I wanted to stomp my feet. I get into T-2, grab my hat, put on shoes and of course start running the wrong way out of transition. As I got on the right path, I notice it is hot. Not just a little hot but scorching hot! Now, I am passed by a woman who is in my AG (she got 1st, I got 2nd). I am really mad! So I do what every good athlete does under pressure when they are tired and have had these calamities. I gave up..I mean in my mind I said f#^$#k it! I don't care anymore..I give up..I start to walk a bit on this very long 4k course. I walk the aid stations,. My husband passes me. I am pissed. Another team member passes me..Again-happy for her-but i am still angry. I feel like crying..Gee do you think I am dramatic enough? I finish around 1:10 or so, I don't stop to talk to anyone and I run and jump in the lake. That helped..Then it suddenly occurred to me that I should be thankful I can do triathlons at all. I am lucky I can walk, that I have my health, that I am even alive. So gratitude pulled me out of my sh^%&thole and pity party. I went on to celebrate lots of Outlaws getting awards today. My husband got 1st in his AG, I got 2nd. Then another big breakfast and pancakes at IHOP-YUM!! I have battle scars on my cheek which got me some well deserved sympathy. A little hard to swallow my pride when they ask-"which part of the hill did you fall on" And I gulped and said-"No hill, just going into transition-you know the flat part."
Moral to story: Don't do 3 races in a row when the first one is Buffalo Springs Half Ironman..
Lesson to me: I need to figure out why I keep sabotaging myself unconsciously in these short races when I could win..