OK I am back to my senses..

Socorro Chile Harvest Sprint Triathlon Race Report:

To say I was less than enthusiastic about this race is an understatement. The night before I was hoping the race course would be flooded with the torrential downpour of summer rains we got here. But then H reminded me that we wouldn't find out until we got down there that the race was cancelled so that idea was not good. We still had to set our alarms to 4:30 AM. Now this is so early for us now, I may as well have stayed up all night. Did catch some good couple of hours of sleep. What was my goal for the race, I asked myself? To finish, taking one for the team. This was the NM Outlaw triathlon Team club Championship Race. That is pretty much the only reason I went. H was no help-he didn't want to go either. We spurred each other on-we can do this! So after getting up at the butt crack of dawn to travel the 75 min to Socorro, NM, we were on our way. I ate my usual 2 bagels and Gatorade and some new caffeine loaded Red bull type drink that made me feel like Super woman but also made my nerves worse. I got to the Race site, got registered and unloaded. I immediately saw one of the fastest women in the state, who just happens to be in my age group and happens to be a really nice person so we chatted a bit. Oh well, no first place at least for me-I thought. Why do I care anyway? I saw lots of peeps we knew, Geekgirl, S. Baboo, Cindy, Lisa and many other Outlaws. That is the best part of racing-seeing my friends-some I have known a long time, some I have just met recently. That part is all good. I never regret going to races when I see my friends..

Swim-400 meters: I fretted about whether I should or shouldn't wear my Outlaw jersey in the swim up until the last minute. I do not have a race all-in-one jersey. So I finally decided to stick with the plan, wear my 2 piece racing suit (while sucking in my middle aged gut), then put my jersey on in T-1. This probably cost me about 15 seconds in T-1 but what the heck. It was a time trial start. I had been too optimistic when I seated myself in the 7 min. swim group so when I took off I knew I would probably get passed. Nerves and all, I took off -Gosh they are having people take off really close together, so I immediately got passed by at least 3 people. I felt like I was swimming at IM pace but just didn't want to push it. Long and steady I just kept saying to myself. A couple of more folks passed me at the end. I tried to pass the guy in front of me a few times but he just kept speeding up so I thought, fine I will just draft you then and save my energy. Which I did-
Final time: 8:13-12 seconds slower than 2 years ago. 2nd in my AG in the swim.
I could have pushed it but chose not to. That probably cost me some in the end.
T-1. Uneventful-1:35 - 15 seconds putting on the jersey.

Bike-12.4 miles: I took off and felt like crap. My legs were hurting. I just was not feeling good. I took in some Infinite, took an Ibuprofen. Decided to just go somewhat fast on the hills (first half) and fly down hill (2nd half). This plan seemed to work well and I felt better as time went by. I passed a few and got passed alot but never saw one woman in my AG. It was deceiving because little did I know they were all busy catching up with me and kicking my butt!
Final bike time: 41:47 Beat my time 2 years ago by almost 4 minutes! Guess the new bike and Zipps did buy me some time!
T-2: 1:32 Had some trouble getting on my run shoes (note to self-get those shoelace thingies on my racing flats next time).

Run-5k: It started out OK. I thought Only 3 miles-piece of cake! Then came the stomach cramp. It really started to hurt but I would not let myself walk. I knew I would be screwed if I did. So I ran while pushing on my side. I was pissed! I knew I could run faster if that damn pain wasn't there. What to do to fix this? My instinct said to take in some Gator Ade at the aid station. I did and the pain slowly started subsiding. Then at the next water station, I took in some water, started doing the very lady-like Belch! out loud and the pain started going away. By now I was halfway through the run and I picked it up. I passed maybe one person, then at the end, I saw this 20 year old kid, who obviously by his race number was a very good swimmer. I mentioned this to him and he said the run was getting him. I said Come on you can do this! We ran a bit together, then I just went ahead of him. I wanted to say Do you want someone your mother's age to pass you? but thought that would be mean so I didn't. Now I wished I just would have passed him instead of chatting..I think it cost me in the end.
Run time: 30:49. About 45 seconds faster than 2 years ago.

Final time: 1:23:53-
5th out of 11 women in my AG.

Now this would not be so bad but after the amazing 1st place woman came in (time of 1:09), the next four of us were within 2:33 minutes of each other!!

Are you kidding me?? I could have pushed just a little harder and placed??

OK, I am being dramatic, but this is true. That is the problem with the seated swim start. If I saw a woman in my AG 15 seconds ahead of me in the run, maybe I would have bolted to the finish? Maybe not..

I have accepted the fact that in triathlon, I will probably always be the middle of the pack. "MOP", as they say. I will never "win" or never be last. Just an in the middle, average athlete. I will never be the best in this sport. Now I know that sounds like sour grapes but it is just reality. For whatever reason, genetics, will power, right training, whatever, I will never win...
Oh well, another race season ended. Oh, except for that little Ironman in November..

BTW-The NM Outlaws are once again, the State Champions! Yea Outlaws!!!