America's Olympic Tri & Weekend RR - 5/31/04

Short Version:
Swim: 28:31
T1: 3:35
Bike: 1:09:01
T2: 2:18
Run: 53:17
Overall: 2:36:40 (PR by about 1:30)
Athena: 1/13 (would've been 2/67 AG)
Pictures: http://picasaweb.google.com/TriFilly/CapTex04/photo#s5118310468746660850


Really Long Version:
The Weekend.
This race is really all about the weekend for me and not so much about the
race. My parents live in a retirement community in Georgetown, TX, about 45
min. north of the race site and for the past three years have offered up
their house as race central for this weekend.
Friday/Saturday - Myself and five other of my racing friends drove down to
the P's house on Friday night and rode a good 75 mile course I'd laid out on
Saturday morning as part of our IMC training. Then it was back to the house
for a lunch of brisket & beers. After a shower and quick nap, another six
racers showed up and we headed off to hit golf balls - that was sight -
seeing all of us youngsters/"flat-bellies" (my parents' term) headed off to
the driving range - I think we scared off a few of the residents... Dinner
consisted of the 14 of us chowing down on ribs, corn-on-the-cob (don't ask
about how to butter it), adult beverages, etc. Poker until midnight & my
parents headed to the neighbors house to sleep as there weren't enough
beds/aerobeds/couches to go around...
Sunday - 9 AM tee-time for nine of us, the rest hung out at home, or got in
some short bike miles. Golf was great - three threesomes, bloody marys, and
the losers had to cook dinner - which was pasta & lasagna back at the
parents house. Again, the Ps headed off to sleep at the neighbors and by 10
pm lights were out and the sea of airmattresses was quiet.

Race Day - 4:15 AM alarm was darn early! We left my parents' house at 4:45
AM and it was already 80 degrees & 100% humidity... It only got worse. Per
Kurt & Todd, heat index was 116 during the run - Ultra Hot!

I hadn't studied the swim course (rerouted since last year) well enough and
it seemed to go on forever. Had a poor swim (1:30 min. slower than last
year) and never found any feet to draft of. But, I was only passed by maybe
six people and I passed a lot - counted at least three different color caps
I caught up to. I fell climbing the steps into T1, but luckily didn't hurt
myself (just looked stupid). T1 was long - probably 1/4 mile from the time
you left the water to the bike mount.

The bike was four loops in downtown, technical, crowded and had some short
steep hills. I was very surprised that I was not penalized, although I
tried not draft, pass on the right and drop back when overtaken - there was
just no room... I was really pleased w. my bike time (21.5 mph) and could
tell I was having a good bike as I continued to put a bit of time between me
and one of my racing buddies (Cari) each time we passed on the loops. I
think I saw Todd on the bike twice & he looked to be okay (later I learned
he'd dropped a water bottle and was headed towards dehydration by the time
he got off the bike).

Finally, get to the run & while crossing one of the bridges I literally
thought I was going to spontaneously combust!! While starting my second
loop, I see Todd going the other way and know he's having issues. I finally
catch up to him about mile 4.5 (1.5 for him) and he starts picking it up. I
try to stay on him, but let him slip away. I finally catch him again just
before I turn into the finish shoot. Although I wanted to walk throughout
the run, I stuck w. my plan to make it to each aid station & only walk long
enough to drink. My run pace was 8:36/mi which is a huge improvement over
the 9:09/mi. I had here last year.

So needless to say, I was very pleased with the race and the whole weekend!
Special props to Debi, considering the heat, I really think that it was
proper training that led me to be able to perform through the
sufferfest/race yesterday!!

Most of all, my parents ROCK!! They support me, my friends, they cook and
clean and cheer and are just the best! I have no doubt that they enjoyed
every minute of the weekend too, but when me & 12 of my closest friends
finally left yesterday, I bet they weren't too upset to see us go :)

Thanks for reading all my ramblings,
Katie