The lowdown on Upstate Olympics, I mean Clemson race, is full of the normal quirks that always seem to come my way and probably everyone elses. I will start with explaining that I ALWAYS get my packet the day before races, and there are multiple reasons for that. However, I didn’t have that option on Friday. So I got up on time, left the house in a timely fashion, and got 4 miles away from Clemson and proceeded to drive in circles for 30 mins. I kept telling myself 30 mins., no big deal don’t stress, and then got to the race site to see a line that looked longer than a mile. The line was to pick up your packet, so I kept trying to be positive but it still took another 30 mins. out of my already late schedule. My time was extremely rushed, and I was feeling the frustration building. I figured stretching was going to be minimal b/c it was imperative I take my bike out on a tester. Luckily, on the test ride I saw Forrest b/c I was having bike issues where my gears were jumping. He seemed to fix it but told me to go to the mechanic, well, I just didn’t have time. So I come back to find some guy has moved into where I had my bike racked, and yes, I already had all my stuff sitting out. Needless to say, I was about to blow a gasket. I calm myself, find Jules who can always make me laugh and calm me down. You always have to start a race w/good mojo.
The swim at clemson is always a little tough for me b/c I always seem to get beat up. This swim was no different, except for the fact I didn’t have my goggles tight enough and kept getting water in them. I sighted ok, but just had a hard time finding a groove until the last 200. I came out of the water at 14 something, which I wasn’t very happy with. I say that b/c 2 weeks ago I did twice the distance coming out of the water at 28 something. The run to transition was went as planned, and all the cheers and support from other people was great motivation.
I start the bike trying to get around all the people who aren’t in as big of a hurry as I am. The bike course at clemson pretty much takes every gear and it took me only a mile to realize that I didn’t have all of mine. The three middle gears in the big chain ring and small chain ring wouldn’t work, the gears would change randomly and make all kinds of sounds. I know the people behind me had to think I didn’t know what I was doing with all the noise I was making. I literally spent half the bike getting out of my seat to stand and mash the pedals on every hill. Everything was either too easy or too hard, no in between. I was thankful to pull into transition and hit the run.
I start the run and my legs are so tight from all the standing up on the bike that I felt horrible. I was happy to survive the “hill of hell” and see all my fellow competitors on the turnaround. Once I got down the hill I was happy and thought maybe my legs had loosened up a bit. I was dead wrong. I got to the water stop and walked for a few and picked it back up knowing there was less than a mile left. No problem, right:) I love kidding myself. I literally could only go another half mile before I was walking again! I just didn’t know what else to do, I was done. I told myself I could finish running and I needed to pick it up, so that’s what I did. I got almost to the finish and 3 different people blow by me, and one of them was Forrest. I don’t know where they came from.
I can truthfully say that given the circumstances, I am completely satisfied with what I did and know for 100% that I gave everything I could. I challenge myself internally all the time, and when I have days like this the best thing is knowing I gave it my all. Speaking of giving it there all, I have to give a shout to Sarah Parker who is now a TRIATHLETE!!!!!! I also have to say welcome back Dr. Doug St. Martin from your long hiatus off of triathlons, you rocked! Check out results if you choose at http://www.setupevents.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=event_detail&eventID=893 . Thanks to my hubby, and all my sponsors. Please help me support them by checking out there websites!
