545AM: checked into transition and warmed up. Felt OK, but head was still heavy and muscles ached.
645AM: Short swim warmup. I have been living in FL too long. Water was 75, and it was freezing!!
7AM: Race starts! 750m swim course was long. Couldn't hang with the lead group led by pro Maxim Kriat. Settled into my pace and excited the water around 13 minutes and change, about 2-2.5 minutes behind the lead pack. T1 hurt worse than anything else, running barefoot on rocky asphalt (feet still hurt)! Grabbed bike and was ready to hammer. It was a windy day with a constant NE wind at 15+mph. My Garmin had the bike course long at 13.3 miles with watch showing an average of 23+mph. Recorded a 34:25 bike split, 7th overall, with the pros going 31-32.5 minutes.
(Cervelo P4 after hammer time)
Entered T2 having not been passed and passing 2-3 athletes. Grabbed my run gear including new Wattie Ink visor. Official team kits ETA next week!! Started out at a moderate 6:13 pace on the run and maintained this for the first mile. Second mile was at same pace, followed by a 6:04 pace to finish the 5K off.
Ended up placing 11th OA and 6th in Elite Amateur division. Also finished 2+ minutes faster than the top athlete in my 30-34AG.
(forced smile)
(really felt like this)
So, the first triathlon of 2012 is in the books. Despite the illness, I am glad that I raced. I know that I have even better performances ahead. However, its only March and I identified areas that I need to focus: swim, and continue to build my bike and run endurance. Thanks to all my Wattie Ink Elite teammates for all the motivation over the past few weeks, and thanks to Wattie Ink for letting me Rock the W in 2012!!! Thanks also to Lee Zohlman for all the long and hard weekend training blocks and the race wheels!
(Rock the W!!)
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