Three and Two-Thirds Races, One Report

It’s hard to believe I haven’t written a race report in three months because normally I’m exceedingly verbose in writing if not in speaking. I’ve been busy, busy, busy with work, training, and fundraising, but three triathlons and an aquathlon need to be accounted for, at least in my own mind.

The three triathlons were Lake Pflugerville on June 20, Couples on July 11, and Jack’s Generic on August 1. They were numbers 17, 18, and 19 in my three-year racing career. Splash & Dash on July 20 was my third aquathlon this summer and my sixth over all. (I love it that Worlds will make my twentieth triathlon and my seventh aquathlon).

Each of the three and two-thirds races was so different that it’s hard to compare and contrast them, so I’ll first list my slow but steady statistics:

Pflugerville
06/20/2010
Lake Pflugerville 70-74
Second Place in the 70-74 age group
Swim 3:50/100M for 500M, total of 19:09
T1 3:08
Bike 13.9 mph for 14 mi., total of 1:02:02
T2 4:41
Run 15:08/mi. for 3.1 mi., total of 45:24
Overall total 2:14:25

Couples
07/11/2010
Decker Lake
Female Friends -We didn’t medal
Swim 4:06/100M for 800M, total of 32:46
T1 3:46
Bike 11.5 mph for 11.2 mi., total of 58:30
T2 4:48
Bike 17:07/mi for 3.1 mi, total of 53:05
Overall total 2:32:56

Jack’s Generic
08/01/2010
Tx Ski Ranch
Third Place in 65-99 age group
Swim 3:37/100M for 500 M, total of 18:05
T1 3:45
Bike 12.3 mph for 13.8 mi., total of 1:07:17
T2 3:42
Run 18:03/mi for 3.1 mi., total of 54:10
Overall total 2:27:01

Splash & Dash
07/20/2010
Quarry Lake
Last and oldest finisher
Swim 750 M Swim 31:44 (incl. T1)
Run 1.86 mi. 31:03
Overall total 1:02:47

As for “color commentary,” I enjoyed Pflugerville and Splash & Dash the most because the courses are very familiar and the sights are worth taking in. The ducks at Lake Pflugerville quack me up, and the buoys in Quarry Lake are abundant and easy for me to see. I knew ahead of time that Couples would be tough because of Little Mr. Tard, and sure enough he got me, despite my new granny cassette, and I had an insect encounter with my helmet, but fortunately not the stinging kind. My race partner, Vanessa, was a lot of fun to team up with -- Go, 727! I also knew ahead of time that Jack’s would be tough because of the late start time and the heat, but I had no idea that riding lickety-split on chip seal would rattle and hurt so much where the sun don't shine. I also lost my new bar-end mirror and had to go get a replacement. Rats! But even in these less enjoyable races, I did free style and jogging the whole way, despite bone-on-bone arthritis that allegedly qualifies me for a knee replacement. No way! I'd rather hobble than stop racing.

To go all philosophical on you, the best thing I can say about racing at my age (72.5) is that I love it. I’m out there doing it and having fun. I’m not using a cane, walker, wheelchair, or scooter chair. I don’t have as many aches and pains as my sedentary clients and acquaintances do, and I take only one prescription medication (for epilepsy – I had a complex partial seizure a year and a half ago). I feel good most of the time. I don’t like training and racing in the heat, but I do it anyhow unless I just can’t. Then I rest. I love the friends I’ve made. I love being outdoors. I love having important stuff to do and important stuff to learn. It’s all good!

The worst thing I can say about racing at my age is that I’m very, very slow and ungainly. There’s no way I’ll get much faster or more graceful. I continue to make slight tweaks in technique, race nutrition, preparation, knowledge, strategy, and so on, but the most I can hope for is to keep on racing until I can do only relays and, later on, only More Cowbell Corps. (So nice to have a career path all mapped out!) I no longer feel ashamed when I’m the last finisher. I no longer beat myself up when I fail to meet my goals for a particular race. I fully embrace whatever happens in the heat of battle, so to speak. It’s all good because it’s life. It’s MY life. So don't cry for me, Argentina, because I don't cry for myself, at least not often.

Somewhere between the best and the worst, I must say that triathlon has been berry, berry good to me. The sport got my granddaughter and me on "The Amazing Race," and now it’s getting me to Worlds. (Shannon will just have to wait her turn for Worlds.) To say that I’m deeply grateful to triathlon and Tri Zones is an understatement, but I’ll say it anyhow – THANK YOU, TRIATHLON! THANK YOU, TRI ZONES! THANK YOU, FRIENDS! Long may you wave. And for some time to come, may I wave as well.

So, my next race report will cover the World Championships in Budapest -- the aquathlon on September 8 and the sprint triathlon on the 11th. I'm sooooo excited about racing in Hungary. Please wish me well!