Wow! Where can I begin!? It started with a 30 mile bike ride: Supersized sunflowers all along the side of the road, new pavement, riding in my first peleton (yes, just like Tour de France), almost effortless 25 mph (but just at the beginning of course), washed-out road, riding 350 yards down a broken pedestrian walk. While going up the last 5 mile big hill, I realized I found that girl I once knew. She always wanted to try new things, see how far she could push herself, how far she could go. I thought the bike would be the worst part, but it was so much fun. Starting, for the first time with Jen and riding with her for 10 miles or so "Woof, woof, woof!) It was cool, but Jen smartly demanded a warmup I never would have done if left to my own devices, which allowed us to comfortably ride the whole way in our sleeveless GSTC top, armwarmers, pocketed shorts, thin running socks (yes, booties wouldve been good but I was fine).
Our sherpas were the best, thank you so much Jeff and Adam for being everywhere we needed you to be, in plenty of time, putting extra effort in to make our transition awesome, when you really would have liked sleeping in, carrying my bike, taking my goggles out of the case, taking pics, everything!
I had an open face pbj at 6 am with a large Dunkin' coffee made my way. Washed down some endurolytes and some anti-fatigue pills, then ate 2 bites of a Hannaford nut bar on the bike with 2 more endurolytes and an anti fatigue pill, 1.5 bottles of water.
Started the first run, uphill but felt good. Panicked a bit about having pills and dry food, but no water, stopped a bit in, to adjust that damned computer chip that was already starting to gouge me. I brought a small tube on lube in my neoprene pack and used it but that think bugged me to no end. It was nice enough to jump off my leg at the beginning of the first swim. I looked for it, for a minute or so, but the water was so cold, and when i started having trouble talking, the man working there told me to just go on, and do the race without it. They would try to get me back together with it later in the race. (Bitch stole my computer chip, yeah, yeah yeah, glad to get rid of it) The first swim was long, and prehistoric. Cold cold hands and feet, people standing by the cliffs along the way, shivering, wondering how they would ever get back in and swim, checked my watch, 15 minutes, must be about half way, cannot see the end, weird fish I never saw before, huge underwater tree limbs, like ancient moose and dinosaur antlers, Neptune's Tri(du) dent. I finally got to the end, how civilized there is hhhhhot ttttttea, and ssspppace blblblblankets. Get my shoes on, run with the tea and the blanket, ball my hands in the bbbllblanket. Kept my cap on, shouldbe taken some food, pills but didnt think of it, ran like a drunk, arms held tight to my body, running just with my legs, then finally saying a sad goodbye to my blanket, back in the race, normal running, hoping I am warm before the next swim. Beautiful views, "Hi, Dunkin' Donuts Girl" Trish kept passing me on all the runs, she wore a desoto wetsuit top on the whole race, what a great idea, I never thought of that. Barely warm enough to do the second swim, but jump right in, no sense waiting, get on with it, grateful for each swim, a break from the running, I do not think I could do all this running without the swims to break it up. Cold water is fine, very cold, but getting out into low 60s no sun, windy was cold, more hot tea, another blanket, caring people rubbing me, walking with my tea while eating some sport beans, endurolytes, antifatigue, running with energy surges under my tongue, lasts a long time, tastes good, and works, first couple miles are fine on the third run but starting to get really sore. halfway aid station, smores chewy granola bar, more pills, yum, ouch, way behind schedule where I was hoping to be. along comes sweet Marty, passes me, but he has the most beautiful heels I have ever seen. My watching them, I can stay RIGHT behind him, running faster. Look at his back and I instantly fall behind, but stare at his heels and I can run. I thank him, hoping I am not annoying. He tells me I am keeping him going but he will walk with me, he wants to walk, I am keeping from walking. I insist we run at least until Godzilla, the big hill coming up and we do, he skips the last aid station so I do also, regretfully, but I cannot leave his lovely heels. We walk some up Godzilla, jog some, walk some, run to next swim, I lost him there, and need to find himand thank him. The last swim, my shoes were not as well supported by my belt as they have been, I can feel them flapping.I think about stopping and fixing it but it is the last swim, short, I keep going, get the the end, climb out easily, passing someone right at the end of the swim, but I sit to put on my shoes, she is already wearing hers, Marty had told me the last dreaded .7 miles is not as bad as I had thought, that gives me great hope and I run/walk up the steep last part. People running in with me, calling my name, jen is already there, still wet wtih her towel, Jeff and Adam are there too! They have my time ok! Even with no chip! I told everyone at every transition that I had no chip. We got to exchange our large T's for smalls, got massages after changing, wish I had brought dry shoes. Dry socks dont stay dry long in wet shoes, windy, rainy, cold, hot soup, wonderful! Incredible food afterwards, and I even got second place! The best day ever, and I found that girl! Bitch stole my antipathy!
