As soon as I got on my bike I knew the weathermen had lied. They were so far off on their wind predictions it wasn't even funny. There was an instant wall of wind as soon as the bike course started, and I knew I was in for a long day. The bike course is three out-and-backs. The out rises 400 feet over ~18 miles and the down comes back down those 400 feet on the way back into town. This meant we would have the wind in our face while going uphill and the wind at our back while going downhill.I watched my average speed slowly drop on the first out from around 17mph to just above 13mph. I was not thrilled because there wasn't much way I could have a 7 hour bike split with that kind of speed, or lack thereof. Then I turned around. My only thought was "there is a God." I averaged 23mph on the way back into town. I was going 32mph at times without even pedaling. It was awesome. I learned that I really suck going into the wind and am really good with the wind at my back. I know that sounds obvious, but it is exaggerated when I'm around other people so I can really see a difference. I got passed the entire way into the wind by people left and right. On the way back on the first loop, very few people passed me and I was flying by them left and right.
Then I had to turn around again. I saw Team W just before the turn around so I knew where they were on my way back out. I pulled over to say "hi" to be nice and let them know I'm alive and appreciate them being there, but they just yelled at me not to stop! I was dreading going back into the wind, and rightfully so. It just sucked. My spirits were very low at this point and I began to question why I was out there and also began to write my race report in my head. I wanted to title it "sometimes you're the windshield" and then begin writing by saying "today I was the bug." I probably averaged only 11-12mph on this segment and I pulled over more than once to just gather myself. I kept telling myself that at the turn around I would be 56 miles in, but really way more than half way done because I would have 2 easy stretches and only 1 hard stretch left at that point. I turned around and was disappointed to find that I did not have the speed I had on my first way back. I only averaged around 19-20mph on this section and that just wasn't going to be enough to balance out my horrid way out. I began making friends on the course and stopped at a few aid stations to get more sunscreen and made sure to thank each volunteer along the way.
I noticed it was hot from the start and began dousing myself with water at each station immediately. I kept a spare bottle in my behind-the-seat holder and that water became hot just after a few minutes of being on my bike. I made sure I kept sunscreen on my hands and face as they felt the most exposed during the day. I saw able to see Angy, Sissy, Lijoy, Randy, Laurie, Robin, Josh, Luke, Michelle, Chad and Andy all at one point or another on the course. I yelled when I could. Some saw me, some didn't. I hadn't seen Shellie so I assumed that meant she was pretty close behind me.
At the start of the 3rd loop I pulled over again for a visit with Team W
. That was just what I needed. My mom told me the wind was dying down and that I was doing well and that it wouldn't be that bad out there again. I'm not sure if she really had any idea what she was talking about, but it was enough to get me going again. I stopped at the first aid station to get more sunscreen and noticed the aid stations began to look more like sit-down restaurants than drive-by hand-up stations. It was pretty funny. People were lounging under tents in the shade, drinking their water like it was a beer at happy hour. I didn't let myself stop anywhere for too long because I didn't want to be tempted with the idea of not starting again. It was at this aid station that I pulled the dumb stunt that left 6 holes in the back of my leg. I don't suggest trying to run while straddling your bike. It resulted in a lot of blood and bike grease on the back of my right calf.Just after the final turn around I saw Shellie. She was just on the other side, so I knew she'd be passing me soon. I rode like hell to try to stay ahead, but she is just faster than me. Plain and simple. Let me explain also - I wanted to run with her, not beat her, so I didn't want her getting so far ahead on the bike that I couldn't catch her on the run. I finally made it back into town and wanted nothing to do with my bike. At mile 111.5 or so I saw Robin running at mile 3. She was doing AWESOME. She looked hot though. I think she was also a bit disappointed that she was so far ahead of me. She had hoped we could run together, but I told her all along I didn't think there was any way I could catch up. I was right, and there was no way I could make up 3 miles on the run.
Looking back, I am very disappointed in my bike. I trained far harder than what I got on race day. All of my long rides averaged anywhere from 16-18mph and I barely mustered a 15mph average on race day. I could not have gone any harder on that day and I wouldn't really change anything, I am just disappointed. I really was expecting to do better. I know the wind and heat had negative affects on my performance, but it isn't like I was the only one who had to deal with that.I gave my bike to a volunteer, ran back through the field of bags, and into the change tent. Shellie was heading out just as I came in, so I knew I wasn't too far behind. I knew to look for Lisa in the volunteer tent and had been looking forward to seeing her for a while. I could tell she was trying to be as helpful as possible while trying not to do anything to mess me up. It was funny she was being so cautious as I could have really cared less at that point. I guess I did tell her earlier in the week that I was sorry ahead of time if I wasn't nice, so maybe she was preparing for the worst!
I decided to change shorts this year, which I did not last year. The idea of super light shorts in that weather was appealing. I had my hot pink running skirt in my bag too. Lisa pulled it out and asked if I wanted it and I said "NO! I am not feeling very pink skirt right now." I took my cool wings and bike jersey off and ran in just my sports bra. That is a risky move as I don't want to scare too many people with my jelly belly, but it was just too hot to think of doing anything else. I told Lisa the bike had been rough and definitely wasn't what I had bargained for. She was a fabulous help and helped me make sure I got everything I needed and I was on my way. I hit the sunscreen people on the way out and they lathered me up. I made sure to put sunscreen on my part after remembering several sunburned scalps as a child.
Bike Time: 7:19, 15.3 mph (last year = 7:41, 14.6 mph)
T2 Time: 5:16 (last year = 5:52)
bike course
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